Freedom from Competition
I was out
jogging one day and I noticed a person in front of me about a quarter of a
mile. I could tell he was ambling and since I was doing that too, I didn’t care
a lot about it; but at some point I wanted to catch him. I had about a mile to
go on my path before I could cool down. So I had no choice but start haring
across the path. Every block, I was gaining on him just a little bit. After
just a few minutes, when I was only about one hundred yards behind him, I
really picked up the pace and pushed myself. One could definitely vouch for me
that I was running in the last leg of an Olympic competition. I was determined
to catch him. Finally, I did it. I caught and passed him by. On the inside I
felt so good. I beat him! Of course, he didn't even know we were racing. After
I passed him I realized that I’d been so focused on competing against him that
I'd missed the road towards my house. I had gone nearly six blocks past it. I
had to turn around and go all the way back.
Isn't that what
happens in life when we focus on competing with our co-workers, or our neighbours,
trying to outdo them or trying to prove that we are more successful or more
important? We spend our time and energy running after them, and we miss out on
our own paths, to our God-given destinies. Many of us would see our lives reach
higher levels if we would quit competing with everyone around us and focus on
our own races to be the best at what God made us to be. It takes a lot of energy,
physical and emotional, to constantly be in competition with our neighbours,
co-workers, or family members. When you let go of that need to compete, it's very
soothing. One start to feel unbounded.
Tell yourself “I
don't have to impress anybody today. I have nothing to prove. I'm secure in who
I am. I don't have to keep up with anyone. I'm not in that race.” The problem
with unhealthy competition is that it's a never-ending cycle. There will always
be somebody ahead of you, someone with a better job, a bigger circle of
friends, a nicer car, or more money in the bank. It's a very freeing thing when
you realize you are not in a competition with your neighbours, friends, or
co-workers. The only person you are competing with is yourself.
Be the Best You Can Be.
Know that the "Best
Possible You" may not be as successful as your neighbour, but that's okay.
The best you may not be as thin as your sister, but that's fine. The best you
may not be as talented, as dynamic, or as outgoing as your co-worker, but
that's all right, too. Be comfortable with the person God made you to be. You
can't get distracted and lose your focus by comparing yourself to others. Run
your own race. I realize I may not be the best minister in the world. I’m okay
with that. But I'm dedicated to being the best minister I can be. I may not be
as good a father as some other men, but that's okay. I'm not competing with
anyone. I'm trying to be the best father I can be. I may not be the ideal husband.
(Don't say, "Amen," Victoria.) But I'm working to be the best husband
I can be. I have a friend who puts me to shame in the way he is so romantic
with his wife. He plans big weekend getaways with her. He writes beautiful poetry
to her. He'll go on for hours about how beautiful she is in their
conversations. I want to tell him, "Would you quit doing that? You're making me look bad." But I've
learned I'm not Romeo. I'm Joel-eo. God made us different on purpose. You can be
inspired by others. You can be challenged to rise higher. But don't condemn yourself
if someone else does better at one thing or another. Some people are stronger
in certain areas, but we all have our strengths. My romantic friend writes
beautiful poems to his wife, but I've written some pretty good books!
God did not
create us to compare and compete. Some people are insecure because they pay too
much attention to what others are doing, where they are going, what they are
wearing or driving. Instead, they should stay focused on their own goals.
You're not anointed to compete with others. God gave you the grace to be who He
has called you to be. When you have unhealthy competitive feelings, life is a
constant struggle. You will never be good enough because as soon as you catch
up to one person you'll find another ahead of you. That's not the way to find
happiness in your everyday life, is it? I've known ladies who normally wouldn't
stand out because of their looks, but they make themselves attractive because
they carry themselves with confidence and seem so secure in who God made them
to be. You meet a woman like that and you can't help but think, she’s got it
going on. Confident, happy, and secure people stand out because what's on the
inside shows on the outside. They are so comfortable in their own skins that
they're not easily intimidated. They don't feel inferior if they don't wear the
best fashions or have the perfect physiques. They understand they're not in a competition.
They're focused on being the best they can be. Take what God has given you-the
height, the weight, the personality-and make the most of it. Dress it up and
wear it proudly. I see too many people constantly frustrated and down about
their looks, their height, or their weight. They're always fighting to fix what
they don't like about themselves instead of accepting themselves. Don't misunderstand
me, I'm all for people improving their health by staying in shape, working out,
and eating right. I'm not saying we should be sloppy. But we have to realize
that genetics plays a role.
Our parents,
grandparents, and God determine our genes. Those genes, for the most part,
determine our ideal size, weight, and height, as well as how much hair we have
and whether we have strong, athletic, muscular physiques or one like my
brother, Paul!
Most of our features
are predetermined by our genetic makeup. We may be able to adjust that weight
15 or 20 percent. Still, if your genes are set for a weight of 150 pounds, no
matter what you do, you can't maintain your weight for long at 100 pounds.
That's not who God made you to be.
If you feel you
have to compete with someone who is naturally fifty pounds lighter, you are setting
yourself up for frustration and feelings of inferiority. You're competing with
someone who is not even in your race.
Be the Best You!
I read about a
seven-year-old boy, Joey, who was never content with himself. He always was much
more impressed with Billy. He walked like Billy and talked like Billy. Well,
Billy didn't like who he was either. He admired Corey. So Billy walked like
Corey and talked like Corey. So, Joey was copying Billy, who was copying Corey.
It turned out that Corey had an inferiority complex, too. He was much more
impressed with Frankie. So he walked like Frankie and talked like Frankie. Thus,
Joey was copying Billy, who was copying Corey, who was copying Frankie. You'll
never guess what happened next. Frankie wasn't happy with himself either. He admired
Joey. So he was walking like Joey, talking like Joey.
All right, let
me see if I've got this straight: Joey was copying Billy, who was copying
Corey, who was copying Frankie, who was copying Joey! Joey was copying himself!
Run your own
race. You have something great to offer. This story points out the truth that
the people you want to be like, very often, wants to be like you. They may
admire you just as much as you admire them. So there is nothing wrong with looking
up to people. It's good to show respect and admiration. But don't give up your
identity for theirs.
Run your own
race. You have something great to offer !!
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