Judgments

This was written at least three years ago, but I don't remember when beyond that
It's definitely not one of my best, but it has an important message

Judgments
Hang a poster on your wall of your favorite singer
Tell your friends how she got to where she is
Her poor family traveled far to give her voice a chance
The competition brought her to show biz

Perhaps your idol’s not like that; he’s much more of a nerd
He works with math or politics or art
And he, too, had to struggle just to make himself heard
But you know each one of his works by heart

Or maybe you admire some astonishing athlete
With strength or speed or flexibility
It wasn’t easy for that girl to get to where she is
But now she works out where the world can see

Either way they all have struggles, each one tells its tale
And all the world’s impressed at what they hear
And yet some of the greatest stories never have been told
Their victims suffer poverty or fear

Most women in Africa walk six miles every day
Just to get water for their families
They’ve struggled much more than any buff actor ever will
Yet when they struggle, no one ever sees

There’s fighting in the senate and the whole world stops to watch
And you don’t say! A great man was just killed
Yet war and third world genocides have killed so many more
And they’re ignored, their causes unfulfilled

A mountain climber died today, the air was just too thin
He was working so hard to reach his goals
The world mourns the ending of one who really did his best
But don’t all those who die have wondrous souls?

There’s nothing wrong with being great and known the world around
But please, oh please, never be self-obsessed
And be aware that less known folks can try as hard as stars
The soul’s the same, so forget who’s best dressed

And for one moment, maybe two, try to imagine if
Your soul could live the lifestyle of a star
You’d certainly be as good as any celebrity
You and your great idol would be on par

Maybe now you have realized it all comes down to this
Famous people were born to have the skill
Our strength, our brains, and our beauty are out of our control
Fame depends on who’s learned to have the will

So next time you meet someone new, be sure you do not judge
Their self worth based on anything they do
First see what they cannot control and maybe you will see
They succeed in the life they’re born into.