This video from Britain’s Got Talent has become viral.
The next Susan Boyle, people have been saying as they share this video.

Call it lack of sleep… or too much caffeine this morning… but the eyes got a bit misty watching the entire clip.

I think it’s natural to make an assessment based on a first impression. We all do it. And we all try to make the best first impression.

It becomes a problem when we don’t give the person a chance to either live up to that first impression or change our minds from the first impression.

And, we have to be honest with ourselves. A lot of times, we just like to leave it at the first impression and not get to know who the person really is and about.

I don’t think anyone in the studio audience gave Jonathan and Charlotte a chance. Simon sees them and says, “Just when you think things couldn’t get worse.”
And the audience reactions reflected that sentiment. The only reason you and I may not agree with that sentiment is, we stumbled upon this video knowing that we should expect more.

And, when the song started, Jonathan missed his cue and many probably thought, “this is going to be a waste of time…”

I love Simon Cowell. And I love that look he gets when he’s really impressed. Simon was genuinely shocked and pleasantly surprised. That smile on his face proves that he has a soul.

It’s amazing (well, more embarrassing) in how fast we make a judgment on someone based on their looks. And how that first snap judgment is so hard to let go of…

It’s easier to live life thinking that people don’t have layers to them. It saves us valuable time, judging a book by its cover.

But I can’t help but think of how God views His people. God tells Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” and how that is consistent throughout Scripture.

Gideon. David. Moses. Mary. Paul. The Disciples.
Even Jesus. Perhaps if he looked more like the Messiah…

This video made my morning and was a good reminder that there is more to a person than their physical appearance.