Inside Out

Good clean competition. Such a thing exists, lending inspiration, motivation, and growth. Sometimes it takes the observation of a person seriously tapping into their own ability before we will rouse ourselves to take the action required for our full potential to flow. It's a gift to be motivated, not only to us personally, but to everyone who benefits from whatever is fully offered, whatever the discipline. Yes, I believe that competition can be a great resource.

However, it seems as though competition has too often overflowed its boundaries, to our detriment. It seems to have overtaken too many of the people I love, and those I don't even know. It's one thing to pursue a thing for fun or challenge, for skill building and exercise, or for expression, and quite another to strive for fame, rewards, and personal definition in that pursuit.

The same holds true for work. To work hard to support a family, or for the satisfaction intrinsic to occupation, or to relieve a societal need is noble, but to work hard in order to be defined by your work, for prestige, and for more and more money (there is no such thing as 'enough' I am told by the wealthy) is not noble, in my opinion. It is destructive. It mercilessly pounds the delicate part of a human, the part that notices true priority and balance, the quiet crucial part that is nurtured by consideration and simplicity towards wisdom, the intuitive nature which lets us know when we are needed elsewhere, or when elsewhere is needed in us. The part that knows there is something more to life than what is before our eyes and longs to learn what that is. Thankfully, this deeper facet is both resilient and tenacious. It will have its day, one way or another - most of the time, and eventually.

A little competition has been good for me, for I tend to be a listener. It gives me the bump I need to get moving now and then, to try new things, to polish up the old. I am happy that I can see the danger in competing for validation. I guess I've seen it enough in those around me, been the recipient of the neglect it induces, to have made the decision early in life to keep listening for the voice of God in my heart as well as in the resources of life, while trying to hold self-promotion at very long arm's length.

See, I don't want to find myself old and defeated by life and greed, by the bad side of competition, realizing that in neglecting the precious, I have come to a regretful, broken ending, haunted by the memories of damaged loved ones, by the life that could have been, had I only listened more closely to reality, while fleeing that devil pride.


(Postscript: Cassie has posted her latest story about a little girl in Japan. Just thought some of you might like a good escape.)