One of my roommates recently introduced me to the popular
American reality TV show “The Voice.”
Similar to American Idol, contestants come from around the
US to audition for the singing competition, and a panel of famous singers judge,
and later choose, contestants that they want to “join their team.”
What makes this show different is that when the contestants
come to sing their debut at the interview, the judges are facing the audience
and cannot see who is singing. One contestant, with an amazing falsetto,
actually sang Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” and the judges were
shocked when they turned around to discover it was a guy!
The judges can choose to turn their seat around during the
song if they would like the opportunity to coach the singer. Throughout the
song, the audience can see the judges’ faces, as each one deliberates over who
they believe has talent . . . has potential, and if they would like to turn
their seat around.
Overall, the show was really fun, and I enjoyed shouting
out, “They’ve got talent!! Turn around, turn around!!”
But what struck me most was how quickly, and accurately,
each judge could determine what they believed to be talent or potential. They
even prided themselves in this skill. The competition was as much about the
singers themselves, as it was about the judges who recognized their potential
and later coached them.
Later that same day, at the gym, I briefly watched a
documentary on the life of a certain professional basketball player who had
come from both poverty and family dysfunction. Amidst the odds against him for
success, a scout spotted him at a high school game, and recognized potential.
The key word was potential. The teenager certainly had
talent, but he needed a lot of work. But the scout saw it . . . he envisioned
what this boy could become. And the boy did.
How absolutely motivating might a job like those of the
judges on “The Voice,” or the basketball scout be!!! I was blown away thinking
about it. How would it be to wake up in the morning and put on lenses that
could see what others couldn’t see? To know what to look for that others didn’t
know to look for!!!
The concept of recognizing potential still blows me away.
I notice this concept of spotting potential in many areas of
my own life.
As a teacher, I’m constantly noticing that of my students.
Not only do I teach the content and skills comprising each individual class,
but I also often assume a “coach” role in many of their lives. They ask for
advice regarding their future education, job searches, cultural uncertainties,
even relationships. I mostly find myself simply listening and trying to
encourage what they are already doing. But sometimes I wish I could “see” them
even better, notice where their greatest strengths are and gently direct them
to follow these strengths!
I also see “potential spotting” in ministry leadership. One
of my sweet friends, and an amazing leader, encompasses what I admire as a
“potential spotter.” She’s a pro!!!
At leadership meetings, she brings up lists of people she
sees potential in, and in what areas. Her heart and spiritual gift is to be a
Shepherder, and she’s constantly thinking about how to guide people to use
their gifts, and she’s great at it! I can’t count the number of times I’ve sat
in her office or across a lunch table to talk about the potential she sees
either in myself, or in others. And she’s often “right on the money.” Again,
how cool is it to wear those lenses of looking for potential!!
I don’t claim to understand the seemingly dueling truths of
election and free will, but I do know that God spots potential to its fullest!
Both in people and in situations, and that hope thrills me! I know that He’s
created good works for me to walk in, and that no mind can imagine the things
He has prepared for those who love Him.
I often wish that I could tap into seeing THAT potential!!
Who could the Body of Christ be as we fulfill the potential we were made for,
we are called to??
What an awesome hope to set my imagination to on a lazy
sunny afternoon!
This potential in my own life will probably be different
from what I might expect. As I see more and more that everything I am and have
is for God’s glory, not my own. But this
is encouraging!! Just as the competition in The Voice was as much about the
judges as it was about the singers, to a much greater, and completely perfect
degree!!, God’s working to show off His Bride is for His Glory!!
And I revel at the thought that the God of the universe
chose me, to be on His team so to speak, to train me in my potential, and to
show off what He is able to do!!
And I believe His call in my life is to recognize potential
in others.
Unsaved people I meet in the hallway, or at the printing
office, in the classroom, or at the grocery store, while I’m walking at the
Lake or grabbing coffee at a café, these precious ones, made in His image, imago dei, could come to life through
the Holy Spirit and be image bearers, now, of the Son!! They could believe and
have their lives transformed!!
And saved people. Whether from dysfunctions of the worse
kind, or from sin bondages of the deepest darkness, these people can and do
CHANGE! Through the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the working of the Body in
community, PEOPLE CHANGE. I’m certainly living proof of that.
Jesus, let me really “see” as you do, everyone I meet. Let
me see that lives can be transformed. That people can change. That You have an
eye for, a vision, for those You love so much!! Let me see too!! Let me see
potential.
