Lee poked a bit last night about singing in church (conversations with the lights out can be very nonthreatening). David’s response was, “I don’t know.”
This morning while we were looking up birds we knew in David’s bird guide, I asked David if the kids at church sing. I figured the third-person approach was a good one. According to David, the big kids sing, but most of the little kids don’t. I asked who sang, and he told me. I asked if they liked to sing, and he said they did, but he couldn’t tell me how he knew. I asked him why the little kids didn’t sing, and he said…. I don’t know. So I think he really doesn’t know.
P.S. I just now clarified a few things with David, and after one statement, he said, “You can type that down now.” Guess I need more practice in neutral and casual. Ha!
And as I’m thinking about it, I need to find out what song Lee is going to sing on Sunday. I’m starting late.
After reading your post, I ask my 10 year old son who doesn’t sing (at church, at school choir, anywhere) why he doesn’t and got the reply “I do sing, just not very loudly.” I said it often didn’t look like he was singing and he said, “I’m not good at singing, so I sing quietly.”
I found it interesting that he thinks he is singing, when his mouth clearly isn’t moving. But, many of the men in my family don’t sing much in church although they all claim to enjoy music, so I haven’t worried about it.
Thanks for the insight into the mind of a non-singer. :)It’s helpful.
I guess I’m coming from the idea that singing is a part of corporate worship. If only the good singers are singing, it’s not corporate. It doesn’t seem to be about enjoying the music; music in the church is about directing praise to God. It’s one of the dangers of having a good music program at a church, I think. It becomes easy for people to view the music as a spectator event. On the other hand, I think one can pray silently along with an individual who is praying, so perhaps one can think or sing the music in the same way. I have done that when I’ve been sick and not able to sing (although I’m so distractible it’s difficult). I’ll have to think on this some more. Thanks, Shelley!