Eugene Cho shares the story of Susan Boyle this week on his blog.
Susan’s a 47 year old charity worker, who’s never been kissed or on a date. She’s currently unemployed and her previous singing experience has been limited to the church choir and karaoke.
She was starved of oxygen at birth and has learning difficulties as a result. At school she was slow and had frizzy hair. She was bullied, mostly verbally. She told one newspaper that her classmates’ jibes left behind the kind of scars that don’t heal.
Yet she recently blew folks away with her performance on Britain’s Got Talent.
Eugene writes:
Notice the sneers, looks, judgments, and assumptions that nearly everyone makes – including the respective judges. The change of “perception†(judgment? -> wonder) in the faces of the judges – especially Simon Cowell – are a sight to see. And to be fair to them, I get it…
Why?
It’s pretty simple – she isn’t pretty. She doesn’t look the part. She doesn’t look like an entertainer. She doesn’t look charismatic. And so it begs the questions:
- Why do we trust our perception and judgment so much?
- Why are we so married to looks?
- Why are we enamored and at times, fooled by “dress for success†or “look the part?†[Think of the film, Catch me if You Can…]
- What is the balance?
How quickly do I cast out judgment based on a person’s dress, or look, or obnoxious laugh? How often do I throw a label on someone without looking at the whole package and hearing their story? I want to put people in a box and label them and define them by my standards – ignoring the person they are – ignoring that they are the Imago Dei.
Watch the video for yourself and then read the rest of Eugene’s post. Then share your thoughts below.
What lessons can you learn from Susan? What does her story tell you about God? Life? Yourself?
update: Vimeo took the original video down, here’s the full video from YouTube
But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.†– 1 Samuel 16:7
Couldn’t agree more. Even the judges reaction gives away our judgemental attitude.
It’s so hard to get past that initial impression we have of people, even when we are aware of it. I’m just glad that God sees past my thinning hair and growing waistline!
Couldn’t agree more. Even the judges reaction gives away our judgemental attitude.
It’s so hard to get past that initial impression we have of people, even when we are aware of it. I’m just glad that God sees past my thinning hair and growing waistline!
Well as nice as this article is, don’t judge the book by the cover and whatever.
Had Susan Boyle been pritty she wouldn’t have got on the show because lets face it, she only seemed good because people were shocked not because she is good singer. Of course she is far better than me but nothing compared to other singers out there, even some on the show.
I refuse to believe that Eugene was not a joke, i would be willing to put money on it being some bloke just dressing up as a stereotypical librarian.
Well as nice as this article is, don’t judge the book by the cover and whatever.
Had Susan Boyle been pritty she wouldn’t have got on the show because lets face it, she only seemed good because people were shocked not because she is good singer. Of course she is far better than me but nothing compared to other singers out there, even some on the show.
I refuse to believe that Eugene was not a joke, i would be willing to put money on it being some bloke just dressing up as a stereotypical librarian.