Tenacious Thee

Sometimes, somebody just sees something in you.

It's the Wild Card show on American Idol. Not something the producers do all that often. But, when you start with 36 contestants to begin with, I guess you need something to add some excitement while at the same time whittling down the list. All judges and all live. It was an exciting show.

Recognizing that the Top 12 needed more girls, the judges added two. [I think Lil Rounds is still the top gal, and she may go all the way to the top. But, I've said that before too early about folks. You can't feel really confident about your picks until after #4 has been selected.]

It came down to the last two guys--two guys I have enjoyed watching since the auditions, though they've received mixed reviews at times. Anoop Desai from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Matt Giraud from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Anoop's a bright college student with a flair for soulful performance. Matt's a dueling piano player whose got a lovely blues thing happen'. The judges announce the winners, and Matt goes through.

I'm happy; he did well. Feeling bad for Anoop, because he is somebody who has that surprising talent and did a lot to prove himself. The surprise of the night, however, was not only on him, but it was on me and probably most of America.

Anoop is in the new American Idol Top 13!!

Cool!

* * *

The judges used the word tenacity a lot tonight. Most of the Idol Wild Card contestants came out with a new passion, vibrance, energy and "fight" to them. And for Matt and Anoop, I think they received the encouragement they deserved because they put forth what was required to move forward--they showed that they have what it takes.

The Bible's got a word for tenacity--perseverance. A lot of folks stumble on that one. It's hard to spell, for one thing. I'm always wondering how many e's are in there. It's a long word; lots of syllables. It can be really hard to put into practice.

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

--Romans 5: 2a-4

It's one of my favorite passages, but that doesn't mean I live it out as if it's a favorite. It's quite clear that the passage describes a progression. Rejoice in suffering. Woo! Yep, that's easy--NOT! But why suffering? Because suffering produces perseverance. And that's a good thing?!?

People often pose the question, "Why do bad things happen?" and its close cousin, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" This post will not debate what is 'bad' and what is 'good.' Why is there suffering? So we can know the opportunity to become strong in the purpose for which we live. Some people receive that opportunity but don't recognize it as such, deciding to languish in the suffering. Some folks will take that opportunity and rise to the occasion--not that you easily overcome suffering. You work through it purposefully. That's perseverance.

When you engage in the process of perseverance, you witness a change in your character, which produces within you a hope ("and hope does not disappoint," vs.5). There is a time for every purpose...and that includes perseverance.

For the Christian, the journey of perseverance is not one that need be taken alone. Even in our suffering, we have One who shares in our state. He knows what it means to persevere. He endured death on a cross--the emblem of suffering and shame--and lived to talk about it. Not that His character needed any refining, nor His hope any redefining, but He took the journey so that we might be blessed as we go about our days--with tenacity!

Because, sometimes, Somebody sees something in you....and something they want you to know in yourself.