Comparisons: Judgement Disguised as Motivation …

I have been preoccupied with being in my early-thirties lately [few of you will remember a television series from the 80's titles "thirty something"] and will celebrate another year of earthly existence in a few days, though it is nothign compared to the one I'll begin enxt year. I know, I am still quite young, but I am starting to feel my age … before I go too far here, let me back up and set this article up so you know where I am going with this.
Do you ever find yourself saying things like, “Why do they need to tell me the age of this guy in the news?” Why do we need to know how old people are? However, when I hear about people’s age, it makes me contextualise who they are and what they’ve done. When I was younger and looked at celebrities, people in my community, whomever, I would always put them on some sort of plain that I was not on. It is incredible the amount of ‘young people’ I would compare myself to.
As I have aged, I find myself passing the age of some of these accomplished people. I know you must do it too ~ it isn’t long before the sports star you idolised is ten years your junior. And while we are on sports stars, let me mention Michael Jordan: He was the one I idolised in my youth. Him along with other celebrities who looking back now were mostly in their twenties or late teens ~ a few even early thirties. While I still enjoy following some artists and such, many of whom are considerably older, doing some simple grade-school arithmetic I realise that for the majority of my heroes ~ and many celebrities today ~ I enjoyed their work in their twenties.
There are several sports stars or celebrities I currently enjoy who are in fact my age or, as is more often the case now, younger than me ~ and I am not old! The captain of my team, Toronto FC, is Jim Brennan; he was born a few short days before me back in 1977 and is a good looking average sized guy form Southwestern Ontario ~ the comparisons stop there: I have no chance of having his soccer skill or life experiences. I guess I have missed my window for true celebrity status and sport stardom. Oh well.
There is, however, one man I have looked up to as long as I remember who is the same age in all the stories we know about him and is younger than most of his followers, an age which I now find creeping up on me quickly. Jesus.
It only took him three years to change the world and save all of humanity, all accomplished by approximately the age of 33. I have done nothing close to that, nor ever will, even if I live to be 100 and work at it everyday with the vigour and stamina of an 18-year-old.
It is possible to compare yourself too much to other people in an attempt to either build yourself up, or tear the other down. Sometimes, it is to motivate you. The only comparison that really has any lasting influence and is of any true worth is the man from Galilee. As I slowly read and understand who He was, and I seek to be more like Him, and am slowly being made into His likeness ~ a little too slow for my liking most days ~ it comes as comfort to know that if I am faithful in being who He has called me to be, I am right where I need to be. Who cares what others say.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go play some FIFA Soccer on the Wii and at least compete virtually amongst my peers :)
Galatians 6. 3-5