The Spotlight Effect

“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.” – Psalms 31:1 Many people fear humiliation. Recently, we had a piano recital for my daughter that included a group of children, and it was truly wonderful. There were about 25 to 30 who performed, and every single one made mistakes. They were adorable! The repertoire included pieces like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Für Elise,” and other selections. I know this young talent had practiced those songs thoroughly before the recital, but they learned an important lesson: playing in front of an audience is very different from playing alone. I remember playing piano recitals as a child. I felt confident, memorized, and nailed the song, but then in front of the audience, my hands got clammy, and I made mistakes. I thought everyone noticed and was laughing at me, but the