I always say to my children, "When you play the compare game, no one wins." I really believe that. In many ways, I feel like we're all given a somewhat similar equation of goods and bads in life, and those goods and bads display differently over time. I do realize, however, some people's challenges do seem far greater than others, and that's why I'm a fan of the kind of government that helps to coordinate resources in ways that support best possible lives for all people.
I thought of this theme this morning as I thought of the many lives I intersect with--lives with all kinds of gifts and challenges. The gifts I notice are gifts of beautiful geographic settings, athletic skill, physical beauty, intellectual strengths, artistic talents, longevity, family love, nice homes, and so many more. I know no one who doesn't have some awesome gifts. The challenges include addictions, financial troubles, health concerns, broken relationships, infertility, loss, prejudice, lack of opportunity, intellectual challenges, and so many more. I don't know anyone who hasn't met with some significant challenges in life.
The challenge is to understand your gifts and challenges, and to craft the best possible life for yourself and others. We have to be grateful for the positive aspects of our lives and we have to figure out ways to positively deal with the challenges. And for each of us, that results in differing lives that are not necessarily better or worse than one another, but simply different.
These differences, however, can move us closer to one another or more apart. For example, as I get older, I realize the challenge that geographic differences play in our lives. With age, it becomes more difficult to bridge the geography that divides us because to travel costs time, money, and ease of transportation. The jobs, both volunteer and paid, also create closeness or distance. If we choose similar jobs or pastimes that will likely bring us closer, but if we choose jobs and pastimes with very different obligations and efforts, that will likely create some distance. Our family styles and sizes also create greater distance or closeness. Those with big families may have less time for friends while those with smaller families may have more time for friends.
Essentially every person lives a different life than every other person. We gravitate toward those who share in life's interests, styles, locations, and goals more than those that differ in those categories. That's just the way life is. Onward.
