Wake-up call

The snickering started as soon as the woman stepped on stage.  She stood in her yellow dress with her hair askew, looking far older than her 47 years  – the epitome of frumpiness.  TV viewers had already learned she was unemployed, lived with her cat and had never been married or even kissed.  Eyes rolled when she told the judges she’d love to be the next Elaine Paige (star of British musical theatre).  

Then orchestral music from Les Miserables began to play and she brought the microphone to her mouth.  “I dreamed a dream in time go by…” and with the first notes, she wowed them all with the beauty and strength of her voice.  When the cameras panned to the judges, their faces showed shock, amazement, humility, awe and then pleasure.  The look on Simon Cowell's face was absolutely priceless.  After years of watching American Idol and every look of disgust he could creatively muster, his face this time had lit up like a little boy's on Christmas Day.  There were even tears and a standing ovation.

After the crowd calmed, the judges said,

“Everyone was laughing at you.  No one is laughing now.  That was stunning - an incredible performance. Amazing.”

“I am so thrilled because I know that everybody was against you.  I honestly think we were all being really cynical and it was the biggest wakeup call ever and I just want to say it was a complete privilege listening to that….”

“The biggest yes I have ever given anybody.”

What is it about us that we’re so quick to judge?  And in groups especially, feel so justified to do it?  In a flash, everyone watching realized they’d been “cynical”, mocking, judgmental and even mean-spirited.  Everyone had expected failure from Susan Boyle and she refreshingly surprised us.  

You’ve gotta see it here.

There’s inspiration and a character-building lesson here for everyone!