Wednesday's Words for April 22, 2009

By now, likely you have viewed the youtube clip from “Britain’s Got Talent” featuring 47 year-old Susan Boyle. If not, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

How appropriate that she chose as her song, “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Misérables. Here is a woman, currently unemployed, lives with her cat Pebbles, never been married, never been kissed. Her words. We also learn that she has been singing since she was 12 and that it is her dream to be a professional singer, the next “Elaine Paige”.

When the audience and judges got a looked at this woman you can see they wrote her off before the first note had been sung. They definitely had decided that based on her appearance she would fail.

And how incredibly wrong they were.

People are like that, aren’t they? They will make a snap judgement, based on nothing more than their own prejudice. Now, if Susan Boyle had been of less stern stuff, she might have turned tail and walked off that stage when the audience made fun of her. Honest to God, people, I likely would have.

Now you’re saying, yes, but Morgan, she knew she could sing.

And I say...what you mean is, she believed in herself.

Before she stepped on stage she said, “I’ve always wanted to sing in front of a large audience. I’m going to make that audience rock.”

And so she did. So effectively that Simon’s company immediately began to talk with her about a recording contract.

One moment in time—one bold decision—and the dream of a lifetime begins to come true. Why? Because Susan Boyle believed in herself, and then stepped out on faith.

The results were so huge, so spectacular, and with a television camera near-by we are all able to share in the results.

How many times does this happen, I wonder, when there are no cameras? How many times do people dream a dream, believe in themselves, step out on faith—and succeed? I bet it’s a lot more often than the cynics in life would have us believe.

Now some of you are going to say to me, “Morgan, be realistic. Not everyone’s dream comes true.” And I would have to agree with you. But the only ones I’ve ever heard about whose dreams didn’t come true were those people who quit.

I have never heard of someone who worked consistently, persistently all their lives to make a dream come true and failed. Have you?

Meanwhile, Ms. Boyle stepped out onto that stage in front of all those people and Simon Cowell, and thrilled us all. Did you watch the entire clip? Did you see how amazed and happy she was with the three ‘yes’ votes? She may have believed in herself, but she didn’t necessarily think anyone else would.

We haven’t seen the last of Susan Boyle, I’m sure of it. Her dream even now is coming true.

Just as I am certain that if you keep on trying, never give up, believe in yourself take that step out on faith and keep taking it, your dream will come true, too.

Love,
Morgan
Cowboys, wild horses, three hearts and a wanton wager
WANTON WAGER
http://www.bookstrand.com/product-wantonwager-14470-200.html