Some lessons from viral fame

Thanks to U-Tube, Nora was probably the most famous musician of 2007.That year, her owners uploaded a video of Nora playing the piano, and her renown went viral. Her style was, well, what you’d expect from a five-year-old cat from Philadelphia.

The big cat, rescued from a shelter by a piano teacher, had heard enough during her master’s lesson days to know that when you press those black and white things, they made noise. If you did it while someone was watching, they praised you. Though Nora had a decidedly eclectic style, a Lithuanian composer-conductor actually wrote a four-minute “catcerto” to a video of her random plunkings. Performed by the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra, that too went viral on-line. Her owner said of Nora’s exploits, “She does like attention.” As the sixth animal in the household, it proved an effective way for her to get verbal praise and petting.

Fast-forward a few years to a talent competition in England, April 11, 2009. A very ordinary, even plain, 47-year-old unmarried woman stepped on stage and took the mike. The audience twittered over the audacity of this woman thinking she could make it where glamour and style counted.When she opened her mouth, the judges dropped theirs in amazement. As Susan Boyle brought vocal excellence and drama to “I Dream a Dream” from Les Miserables, her dream came true. Overnight, this unknown daughter of a miner and typist—youngest of ten born when her mother was 47—became an internet sensation. Ten minutes after hearing her sing, an engineer created the YouTube channel dedicated to her shocking “Britain’s Got Talent” performance. Just overnight, it generated 20 million views.

She was the unlikely winner. Because of oxygen deprivation at birth, she was always a bit “different” and as a child was bullied. But she found her love in singing, and regularly sang in her church choir and in karaoke bars. She took some singing lessons to improve her skills. Finally, to fulfill a promise to her late mother, she mustered the courage to audition.

Today, the frumpy look is gone. Her clothes are more stylish, and her hair and face show a beautician’s touch. But the voice is still there, smooth and vibrant. Remarkably, when asked what she’d do with her new wealth, Susan replied, “I’d like to get some teeth fixed but I don’t have a lot of needs.”

The difference between the two ‘net musicians? Nora was random, a novelty who thrived on attention.Susan quietly prepared, then dared to try. Nora reminds us that humor and fun can crop up in unusual places. Susan’s story reminds us that a lot of hard work precedes what the world calls “big breaks.”

Few, if any of us, will sing like Susan and wow a crusty panel of talent show judges. More of us will be asked to be faithful in becoming better at what we do well, regardless of public acclaim.It’s easy to be Nora the cat, looking for approval from The Master for some plunking around. It’s harder to take what God has given you, work at expanding and perfecting those skills, and blessing others along the journey. But someday, when you least expect it, your final performance will come and you’ll stand before The Master.

Now? Never forget Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”