麻豆社

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Julia Loveless

Good morning.

I recently came across a piece called 鈥榯he desiderata鈥� by Max Ehrman. Published in 1927, its thoughtful instructions are close to 100 years old, but I find its challenges are still apt for my life today. Take this extract as an example; 鈥渋f you compare yourself to others, you may become vain or bitter - for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.鈥�

It is a well-known sentiment these days that comparison is the thief of joy; it literally steals our joy. The bible addresses this truth when it talks about envy causing disorder - in fact, according to the colourful, metaphorical language of Proverbs; 鈥淸it rots] our bones鈥�. To compare ourselves to others is to do a disservice to both ourselves and to the other person. We either belittle their value and inflate ours - or elevate their worth and bludgeon our own.

Surely there is beauty and peace in instead affirming our difference, championing all of our successes and grieving with those who experience loss or failure as we would if they were our own. What could our world, our society look like if we all took the simple instruction of the apostle Paul when he said 鈥渞ejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.鈥�

God; I know that I have allowed comparison to creep into my heart like a thief in the night and steal away my joy. Forgive me. And help me, I pray, to see myself and others with your heavenly, loving perspective.

Amen.