No Comparison

I have recently been checking out online grocery shopping, comparing the various supermarkets.  It's strange how they each claim to be cheaper than their rivals and 'prove' it to be so.  I don't quite understand how they can all be cheaper than each other except that of course they don't always compare the prices of everything we buy, only some things - how convenient!  But it is often good to compare as it helps us to make good choices, particularly of how we spend our money.  We are bombarded with adverts about Comparison Sites, whether it be about shopping, insurance, travel etc.  Facts and figures can be very helpful.  There are times, however when league tables and targets can have adverse effects as we have seen in the Health Service and when competing and reaching targets are sought at the expense of quality.  But on the whole, used wisely, the numbers game can be beneficial.

 In other walks of life, comparisons are not so helpful.  People can get into a great deal of debt trying to 'keep up with the Jones'.  They look at other people and what they have, the size of their house, the make of car, where they go on holiday.  This sadly is passed down to the children who compare the latest mobile phone or gadget. They want things that carry designer labels.  All the time they are comparing themselves and competing with others.  Healthy competition is good as we see on occasions like the Olympics and other sports events but can become dangerous when people are driven to eating disorders because they compare what they look like with the false airbrushed images they see in glossy magazines; or when children feel pressurised to be in the top group at school.

Somerset Levels floods 2014

Earlier in the week my attention was brought to a blog written by a weather man who was comparing what had happened in the Somerset Levels and what happened in Yorkshire a few years ago, saying that in the Yorkshire storms many more people were affected.  Living in Somerset I immediately wanted to answer, trying to give a balance to the whole picture.  Other people were comparing what has happened over the winter months because of the storms with what is happening in Syria or other troubled parts of the world where there is war and famine.  Others suggested that our overseas aid should be cancelled in order to give to those here who need financial help.  I began to think about this compulsion to compare and feel that it isn't really helpful.  If people are in need then they are in need regardless of what is happening in other parts or has happened in the past.  People in need, need help wherever, whoever they are and all our comparisons don't change that fact. 



Facts and figures is one thing but whether someone is considered beautiful, better, of value or worthy in some way - can that be decided by comparison?  I'm glad that God doesn't constantly compare me with others.  He doesn't compare us one against the other.  We are each unique even members of the same family, even identical twins.  In His eyes we are each worthy, loved, forgiven.  I want to be the 'me' that God made me to be.