Take Notice
If it were just me, I would watch the Susan Boyle video and say “that’s nice!” It’s not overly surprising to me that someone the world may call “frumpy” has a really nice singing voice. I might even think “I bet she’ll get a recording contract” and think happy thoughts about her future. And that would be the end of it. You would think that since I am a self proclaimed “frump” myself, that I would be overjoyed by her success. But my Eeyore/who cares self too often dismisses things that really may be due some further reflection.
I wanted to know what has happened since her fame explosion, and see what others were saying. What we all can learn and need to reflect upon is exactly what The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit Priest says:
“The way we see Susan Boyle is very nearly the way God sees us: worthwhile, special, talented, unique, beautiful. The world generally looks askance at people like Susan Boyle, if it sees them at all. Without classic good looks, without work, without a spouse, living in a small town, people like Susan Boyle may not seem particularly ‘important.’ But God sees the real person, and understands the value of each individual’s gifts: rich or poor, young or old, single or married, matron or movie star, lucky or unlucky in life. God knows us. And loves us. ‘Everybody is somebody’ said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan at his installation Mass in New York City yesterday. That’s another reason why the judges smile and the audience explodes in applause. Because they recognized a basic truth planted deep within them by God: Susan Boyle is somebody. Everybody is somebody”.
If we as Christians don’t know this, we need to do some work to be able to try to wrap our brains around this. And then we need to live our lives like we believe it, and help others learn about God’s love for them. It’s as basic as that Children’s hymn “Jesus loves the little children.”
It’s true. If we lived like we believed we were precious….not priviledged, not entitled, ….just loved. How would we then live?
This is important stuff. We need to take notice.
