two old guys in my balcony

American Idol launched its new season recently; its 11th.  Our family has grown accustomed to watching American Idol.  While we certainly do not enjoy, nor watch all of it, there is much of the show we find entertaining.  The portion of the show we find most entertaining is the early auditions.  Many of the auditions reveal unique and sometimes mind boggling talent.  There are quite a few auditions, however,  that reveal the exact opposite: an horrific and skin crawling lack of talent.

This is to be expected.  Certainly any 'talent' show will be exposed to its fair share of the less talented segment of society.  American Idol has made household names out of some of the most talentless people in their auditions.  After all who could forget, William Hung?  Most of those with no talent, however, do not go on to achieve their brief moment of stardom.  The 'William Hung' (thankfully) is a rare bird.

What we find stunning (my family and me) is the fact that these truly talentless people actually believe they are talented.  Not only to they possess such insane (and often sad) belief but they argue their case with the industry's most proficient and successful artists and producers.  Of course American Idol is all too ready to capture these 'melt down' moments for our somewhat depraved viewing pleasure!!  Indeed these moments have, in no small part, contributed to the huge success of the show.

While watching one of these infamous meltdowns I found myself thinking, 'these kids need two old guys in their balcony.'  Perhaps you don't know what I mean by that statement.  Yet if you grew up watching the Muppet's on T.V. (as did I), then you know exactly what I mean (yes, I also saw the movie earlier this year).  The two old guys are not only some of the classic comedic relief of the show, but they are the shows most vociferous critics.  If anybody can 'stick it' to the Muppet's, it is certainly the 'two old guys in the balcony'.

Yes.  Indeed.  What we need today - all of us - is 'two old guys in our balcony' reminding us of how silly and self absorbed we have become.  I'm not sure why the parents of these teenage prima donna's don't fulfill this role.  Oftentimes the parents are depicted as being even crazier than their certifiable children.

As I consider my own life and the current shape of my desires, I realize more and more how easily I can 'dupe' myself into believing I am better than I really am.  Jeremiah 17:9 reminds me that my heart is the seed bed of wickedness and thus would lead me astray at every turn.  One, though not the only, way to counter my heart's ability to mislead me is to develop a keen awareness of the 'two old guys in my balcony' and listen to them. 

The 'two old guys' need to be people who love me and care for my best (if not, then I will neither listen nor, more importantly, trust what they have to say).  They will need permission - permission from me - to speak into my life.  They need permission to speak the words no one else will - the words that I am often incapable of or unable to hear.  Then they need to laugh with me - to teach me how to laugh at myself.  The will need to tell me when they see evidence in my life of my 'mis-shapen' desires.

Who are the 'two old guys' in your balcony?  Do you give people you trust permission to speak into your life in meaningful ways?  Ways that will shape and form your desires toward others; toward bringing good into your world?  My hope is that my desires will be shaped toward Christ and His Kingdom more and more everyday.  For if they aren't shaped toward Him, they will ultimately and always be shaped toward me, myself and I. 

Funny.  I never knew I could learn so much about myself and my need for 'two old guys in my balcony' by watching American Idol.

the shape of desire

biz


By the way, check them (waldorf and statler) out - they are truly funny!
Two Old Guys in my Balcony