A kangaroo can jump 10 feet straight up and hop 40 feet in a broad jump. Not bad. But a grasshopper can jump 10 to 20 times its length, which would be like a kangaroo jumping 120 feet.
And the winner is .... Fleas can jump 13 inches in a broad jump and a foot into the air. That's 300 times a flea's length, which would be like the kangaroo jumping six football fields.
If you weren't born competitive, you probably started competing, or at least comparing, when you were pretty young. As soon as you start getting grades, you try to find out who's the smartest in the class, the best reader, the best writer. At recess, you have races to see who's the fastest. Soon you find out who's the best batter or the best at shooting hoops.
It doesn't take long to start comparing your clothes to someone else's. you go home with a friend, and you can't help seeing that her house is nicer than yours.
Comparing and competing may be natural, but those habits can also be destructive. Even if you come out on top now because your're a big fish in a little pond, it's a big world out there. There will always be someone faster, smarter, better looking than you. So what?
If you have to compare and compete, try being your own competition. Do better in math this year tan you did last. that's success -- not that you're better than your buddies. Have fun playing sports, even if you'll never score the winning goal. If you love music, join the band. You don't have to be the best tuba player around.
Measure yourself by yourself, and leave the judging to God.
"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." -- Galations 6:4
No comments:
Post a Comment