LESSONS FROM SUSAN BOYLE
By now, most of you have probably seen the You Tube video
from Britain's Got Talent featuring a singer named Susan Boyle.
If not, please do check it out. Before this 47-yr-old woman began to sing, I would guess that most everyone, including me, had no expectations of anything good, let alone anything great. We judged her by appearance, and assumed she would not have much to offer. And we were all dead wrong. The beauty of Susan's voice as she sang I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis startled us and challenged our daily practice of making quick assumptions.
What does this say to me? I recognize all over again how quick I am to evaluate others based on how they are dressed and how their body looks, and even the expression on their face. I leave so little room to discover something surprising, to realize that a human being can make a contribution in a way that is not at all consistent with my boxes and labels, that is completely unbelievable and full of wonder. I need to be far more open and gracious and willing to let go of my narrow expectations. This holds true when I come across people in my neighborhood, at my church, on my travels. Jesus told us not to be fooled by the outward appearance. I personally find that extremely hard to live out. Susan Boyle, thank you for providing such a vivid picture for me that judging a book by its cover is still not a good idea!