I have been listening to Eva Cassidy sing “Songbird”, and so appreciating the beauty of the lyrics and her voice. Until recently, I had no idea that Eva Cassidy was dead, and that, at the time of her death, she was virtually unknown outside of the state of Washington, where she was born. The gorgeous album, “Songbird”, was released more than ten years after her death.
I got thinking about what it must have been like for her to have such talent and yet to be largely unrecognized. What if she had given up and quit singing? What if she let the lack of appreciation for her talent dim her light? The world would have been a poorer place without the loveliness that was Eva’s voice. It made me think of the statement attributed to Mother Teresa, which tells us to do what is in our hearts to do, regardless of response or lack of response. In her words:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
I think she is stating a great truth here: that we need to listen inside, act accordingly and let go of what the outcome around us might be.
Here is a link to listen to Eva Cassidy sing “Songbird”: