Living Inside Out

You HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS!!! Click on the link below and then come back to my blog.
I PROMISE YOU...IT WILL BE WORTH YOUR TIME TO VIEW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmbJzH93NU


WOW! How INCREDIBLE! Did you even expect that? Appearances can be deceiving, can't they? What a blessing!

Now, let me ask you something. When you first saw her, what did you think? Be honest, if you didn't expect her to be able to sing like that, then that means you had a preconceived opinion of her based on her exterior - was it her appearance perhaps? Maybe her quirky nature? Or was it the fact she is unemployed, never been married, never been kissed, and has cats for companions - and about to turn 48! Did you stereotype her as an eccentric 47 year old spinster cat lady? Or maybe because she wasn't attractive and seemed kind of goofy, you expected the worst? Now just a little more info that I have dug up on Susan Boyle - she's been singing since she was 12. She sings regularly in CHURCH and performs in local plays/musicals in her hometown.

For Susan Boyle her outward appearance could have been what hindered those in entertainment from giving her a chance. Case in point - the audience's reaction when she first walked on on stage was just rude. They were heckling her, laughing at her, making fun of her. But she didn't budge. She stayed her ground and MADE THEM hear her beautiful voice and SEE her inner beauty! She shut them up and left Simon Cowell surprised and speechless. She waited for 35 years for the opportunity to be noticed for her gift. God answered her prayer in His time AND changed hecklers to bonafide fans.

I am going to be totally transparent with you. I did judge her based on her appearance, on her life circumstances, and not for the person she is on the inside - a beautiful, courageous person who is deeply loved by God. The bad thing is that I didn't even realize I had passed judgement on her until she opened her mouth to sing. At once I was struck by both the beauty of her voice and the guilt that convicted my heart of my erroneous judgement. I was busted! Because I judged her based on the exterior I almost missed out on one of the most beautiful singing voices I've ever heard! I was ready to write her off. I wonder, how many other opportunities I have missed out on because I couldn't get past the exterior to see the inner beauty of others. How many more friendships could there have been had I just looked more deeply? How many other wonderfully talented, loving people have I overlooked, ignored, or avoided simply because I subconciously (and conciously) judged them without getting to know them? What's worse is that I didn't even realize I had these judgemental blinders on!


God helped me realize today that I am way to quick to judge others, even though I try hard not to. I still need His help in this area of my life. I need to look at others more deeply, to see them as He does, to see the inner beauty and potential of each and every person He created. And most importantly, I need to love them as Christ does - unconditionally. What about you?

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

I'm praying for Sasan Boyle to win the Britain's Got Talent competition! You GO GIRL!


In His Love, Cathy