I just finished watching an extraordinary video, sent to me by an extraordinary friend.  It is his Christmas gift to me, and I would like to share it and the thoughts it generated with you whom I love.

The audience is quiet.  The camera pans to a panel of judges.  Judges.  It is a contest.

He steps out onto the stage, he and a friend.  One of the judges takes one look at the young man and begins to express his frustration with these candidates who are not meeting his expectations. 

As the two friends stand on the stage, the panel of judges, and this one in particular, ask them if they believe they can win.  The young man responds shyly, perhaps.  He has a sweet smile, and brushes his longish curly hair off of his face as he looks at his friend for reassurance.  She is infinitely confident and he feels it.

We cut away to him speaking about how people treat him.  How they say things to him that make him feel shredded and less than human.  She sits beside him, protective in her posture as well as in her verbal defense of him.  She is his Earth Angel.  And she is beautiful.

The camera rests on some audience members . . their faces show their judgment and their bored thoughts of "get on with it."  They wish to be entertained by someone more physically acceptable, it seems.

Finally, the time has come for the young man and his friend to perform.  The judges, one in particular, steels himself for what he is going to hear.

Then the young man begins to sing like the Archangel Gabriel has come down from Heaven and lent his angelic voice to this human being for an eternal moment . . .he sings with such passion and intensity and power . . .all of Creation takes pause to listen in gratitude.  The only word to use is "Magnificent!! and that word pales into insignificance in this application.

The judges, as well as the crowd, as well as the world . . .offer this young man a standing ovation when he is done singing his song. . . . Dazzling brilliance affects people in that way.

The young man stands there, listening to this overwhelming applause, with his sweet little shy smile.  He is absolutely delighted.  He looks with pride at his Earth Angel, so confident and loving beside him, with triumph.  They are both triumphant.

You feel the shift in the judges and in the audience.  Having seen and heard his brilliance, now they are on his side.  Now they see something that they find valuable . . .something that they didn't before. 

Now one judge in particular feels like his friend will hold him back.  Having been the most acceptable to him prior, now she is the unacceptable.  And he makes sure everyone knows it.  The world is watching. 

The judge gives him the opportunity to take the prize for himself . . .but he declines.  There is more here than meets the world's eye . . .they simply don't understand.  But they know he will be a star.  He already is.

Why is it that we human beings judge others so harshly?  What benefit is it to us?  Sure he put himself out there on that stage and had to expect to be evaluated, but he felt he had something beautiful to share, and he had a right to do so with the same acceptance as any other person. 

In fact, the world is a better place when he sings, as he moves people to feel . . . and in his voice we can, on some level, acknowledge that which is brilliant in all of us.

It also made me think of why it is that we view certain people as only being acceptable if they are brilliant?  Or thin?  Or pretty?  Or athletic?  When will we learn these things don't matter?  This young man was infinitely acceptable before he ever walked on that stage or ever opened his mouth. 

This way of thinking was immediately obvious by the way they addressed his friend after the performance.  She was not as brilliant in their eyes, and they told her so.  She accepted their critique with grace and elegance and with love for her singing companion. 

As they stood there listening to the world's voice, they both were incredibly beautiful to me.

You will immediately recognize the judge of whom I speak.  I am not judging him.  He is an example for all of us, and is a reflection of all of our judgments and of the world's views on what is acceptable.  He is me and I am him.  We created that video together.

If I had the opportunity, I would love to ask him what he has learned from it all, so perhaps, I can learn from him.

Namaste . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knUFWY2P44