I love the story of Susan Boyle-—so much so that I’ve almost memorized her interview on Britain’s Got Talent word for word, gesture for gesture. I’m hooked. And here’s why.
47-year-old Susan Boyle represents the most ordinary—-maybe even less than ordinary—-unhollywoodish, plain Jane you could ever meet (I know, she’s Susan, not Jane). She’s never been kissed, can’t find a job, apparently doesn’t care to cover her grey hairs or follow fashion, and certainly doesn’t believe in plucking her eyebrows. She is not comely on the outside and you’d certainly not expect her to have any talent. But talent she has. Real talent.
The look on the faces of the judges when Susan opened her mouth to sing was worth a million bucks (eh, pounds). Clearly they were taken off guard. Totally stunned. And no wonder. Susan’s voice and presentation were stunning. Her talent transcends words.
What I loved also about her song, other than her flawlessly pitched voice, were the words. She sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. The song ends with the line, “Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.” But Susan’s dream is anything but dead since her performance on the show. She is the center of the latest talent buzz. And I have a hunch we’ll be hearing a whole lot more about her, and from her.
See Susan Boyle’s stunning performance here.
Susan reminds me of Paul Potts, now a household name for classic opera lovers.
See his performance here.
What I love – what we all love – is that these “nobodies” are really somebodies. On the outside they look plain. On the inside, they hide an immense talent—and they are beautiful. Isn’t that the same with each of us? According to the Bible, everyone has at least one talent. And although we may not be given the chance Susan and Paul were given, and be able to exteriorize our talent in front of large crowds, God sees it and it is precious in His sight.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The important thing is to do the best we can with what we’ve got. “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29). And if we do just that, leaning on Jesus all the way, our dreams will come true and unfold in ways we never even imagined possible.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © April 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment