Blogging like a Church Choir Soprano

You clench your jaw and your hands clutch the edge of the pew as the choir anthem approaches its climax. Covering your ears would be a more effective way to block what you know is coming, but obviously rude. Maybe if someone else made the move first ... In the pew ahead of you, the man's shoulders scrunch but won't reach his ears.

And then that soprano hits the dreaded note. Rather, she warbles around the high G but never quite touches it, and you feel your eyes wobble around in your head like a ball on a trampoline.

Sopranos are the stars of the show, right? The music is all about them. How many of you know what I'm talking about? You know, that church choir soprano who thinks she's marvelous and sings out for the world to hear but leaves people cringing in their pews.

Oh yeah, I've known a few.

For the record, I am a church choir soprano. I've always loved singing in choirs where I'm able to use the gift God gave me while blending in. I've had my share of solos, but I'd much rather be one voice with thirty others than draw attention to myself. While to some degree, everyone wants attention, I greatly dislike being the center of attention. I like blending in.

Those of us who blog know what it's like to blend in with a cacophony of voices. I'm *comfortable* in not having that soprano solo, but if I'm to be a successful author, I have to get over that. I need to get my name out there. The problem is, I'm afraid I'll blog like that church choir soprano. In my attempt to be heard, I question whether I'm striking all the wrong notes. Are my topics boring? Am I becoming annoying? Where do I draw the line with self promotion? Is it better to blend in, or stick out by singing badly?

Do I take a deep breath and aim for that high note? Even if my voice is wobbly, at least I'll be heard.

Is that better than not being heard at all?

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As an aside, one of the greatest experiences I've had as a choir member was at the 60th Anniversary Celebration (October 2009) for KTIS (a local Christian radio station begun by Billy Graham). My husband and I and a handful of members from my church choir had the honor of singing in a 1000 voice choir that backed up Michael W. Smith. It was an amazing evening of worship, emceed by Matthew West, that also included music by Phil Stacey. Below is a video of our choir anthems.