That was a great "vision" you had that did the trick.   I have often noticed that folks tend to sing hymns with not nearly as much gusto as if they were singing a shopping list. When I was just a young butterball in my teens, I recall the church choir director suggested that "we" of the choir try singing as if we actually believed the words we were singing. Some seemed a bit offended, but I had to snicker as I had been having similar thoughts. What a difference it makes to the listener.