I help out with the sound and slides and lights for church services.(*)
I don't like the drum/overamped guitars/praise chorus variety of music. I don't like the style, the volume hurts my ears, and I can't hear myself sing and have no idea whether I hit the note or not.
The music grated on me each Sunday, and after a while I started to think of the band as interfering with worship—as adversaries. When I realized that I thought of them as opponents, my duty was clear.
I had to serve them.
That's when I volunteered to work with the sound team. I wound up behind the stage curtain managing the monitor board (and handling microphone batteries and matters arising). Their wishes were my commands.(**) I wore black so the congregation wouldn't notice me getting in and out of the stage-side booth.
A few years later the church reorganized the electronics, eliminating the need for a separate monitor board, and opened two other services. I started serving in one of the other venues instead.
I still don't like loud music, and think it is bad for congregational participation. But I like the people of the bands, and I have a feel what they're trying to do, and I appreciate them.
It's kind of an obvious distinction, but I'm a slow learner sometimes. And the appreciation isn't abstract, but real.
(*) The directors say about rehearsals that "If you're early you're on time; if you're on time you're late." The sound man has to be there even earlier.
(**) “I need a little more of me in my monitor.” “Got it.” “A little less now.” “Got it” “OK, that’s good.” The level is right back where it was before—probably the musician just needed to re-sensitize his/her ear.
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