Encouragement

Encouragement is good.
I think more than any other profession, artists tend to be the most prone to depression and self-loathing. It's true athletes are tough on themselves too. They work vigorously, train constantly, and are never satisfied with their game, but athletes tend to take adversity or negativity as motivation to play harder and be better. For artists, who are trying to create something beautiful or interesting or provoking, negative feedback on their art is taken very personally.

As a worship leader, I have noticed that we are under the most meticulous scrutiny by every person I lead. Every person in a community has an opinion about something related to the music. I have received comments about music being too loud, or a musician wearing a hat, or how they don't like that song, or you don't play enough hymns, or you don't play enough rock, worship is too long, too short, too old, too new... etc. Each comment tells me that the people we are leading are more concerned with the "show" of worship than actual interaction with God. I understand the need for evaluation and improvement, but this should not come at the cost of encouragement.

Worship leading is one of the highest callings, and in, often under constant attack. You can ask my wife, each time I lead worship, I am under attack from the enemy. I start to loath myself; I hear lies about my abilities; I fear I too bad a person to lead worship; I want to run away... It's encouragement that brings me back. The words of believers who say "Gordon, you are a great worship leader... lead on". There is always time for criticism. But encouraging a worship leader will do far more than telling them they were slightly out of tune on your favorite song...

...fight the calf