Dancing With Lazarus - The Fear Of Simon

Dancing with Lazarus - The Fear of Simon

YOU KNOW the TV show American Idol, right? And Simon? The judge? Oh, my. I so respect the contestants as they audition and perform. I could never face the harsh critique of Simon (whether I could sing or not—which I cannot). When I was younger, my problem was that I always placed too much value on what others thought of me. Thus, my performance was far too important. I finally realized that this was undermining my ability to live my life to the fullest for God.

Some of us fall prey to the critical comments of an authority. But that authority (anyone you give credence to) may or may not have the expertise to properly critique your life performance. Others of us are drawn, like a moth to a lightbulb, by the roar of the audience applause. Both are equally dangerous, as either can undermine your ability to objectively consider your options and take the risks needed to answer your calling.

In Alexandra Stoddard’s book You Are Your Choices, she shares this anecdote: “After his first audition, Fred Astaire received the following assessment from an MGM executive: ‘Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.’ ”^a

Girlfriends, what if Fred Astaire had listened to his “Simon”?

When I am afraid,I will put my trust in you.I praise God for what he has promised.I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)

I had to get over the “judge”—and for me, that was what others thought. Neither their critique nor their applause should affect my calling. You see, I have a safety net. The only judge who matters has choreographed my performance.

Get behind me, Simon!

^a Alexandra Stoddard, You Are Your Choices (New York: HarperCollins, 2006), 209.