THE BOOK AND ITS COVER.

​My wife likes to watch “America's Got Talent.” As she watches the show, she sometimes gleans amazing performances that she thinks I might be interested in. One of those was the time when Susan Boyle made her first appearance.
 
I remember that show. This woman came on stage looking like something that from a suburb London pub to try out for the local karaoke. “What is your goal?” She was asked. “I want to be a professional singer!” She answered. The judges at the panel smirked in an air cynical incredulity that seemed to fill the whole audience, that is, until Susan opened her mouth and  started to sing. First came the shocked silence, then the screams of adulation. Susan attained her dream. She is now renowned worldwide as a professional singer.
 
There is a sad reality to that story. If Susan would have been a beautiful young adult in her mid twenties with her hair all done up flowing down her shoulders; if she would have been a perfect  size and wearing a beautiful shiny gown people would have expected no less. What made that performance so amazing was that people never expected such a beautiful crystalline voice, indeed such a beautiful spirit, to come out of what they were seeing.
 
Many a talent is wasted because as strange as it is, our first reaction is often to judge people by outward appearance and demeanor, or even our first impression.  They may have the most beautiful spirit in the world but no matter how we try, we cannot help but judge a book by its cover.

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