For me I place myself in an atitude of being a servant first. I'm not looking to be the greatest chord runner or have the phatest sounds. I just want to play so that someone who came in feeling bad leaves uplifted. Sometimes, I'm the one whoe needs to be lifted and when I submit my will and talent to His will I hear something I haven't heard before come out. That may seem strange but true in my case. I feel that musicians are the most misunderstood people on the planet. We play from whats within and when we let it out, theres nothing left. The preached word fill the hearts and minds of the listener but we need more at times than the preached word. The great thing about this site is that we're all musicians, in the same boat just different rooms. You may never experience having to play for 6 choirs, 6 rehearsals, Sunday morning, afternoon, night, Tuesday, Weds, Thurs, Saturday, revivals, appointments and annivesary services for 25 years straight while holding a day job
Thank God I'm not in that room anymore but I'm still on the boat
My ritual on Sunday is:
1. Check instruments (you hate to go into service an it doesn't work)
2. 5 min of meditation ( I play a basic song like " I need thee oh")
3. Verify sound system operational (you want the preached word to be heard)
4. prepare for 10:00 choir rehearsal (choir like to be sure of what they're singing today)
Yeah, it seem like alot but it works for me.