Picture an award ceremony. You have all the competitors come together hoping they made it under the top three. They all want a medal and to stand on the podium–they want to be recognized for their accomplishments.

A professor once had a rather personal extra credit assignment for the class. He asked us to write a paragraph or two on something we’re personally struggling with. There was obviously a lot to chose from but I chose to write about how I, metaphorically speaking, always find myself in second place on a podium. There is always someone who made first place in something that I didn’t. Just as there is always someone I beat to second place.

Second place means feeling better than the person in third. It means the person below you isn’t as good as you. Similarly, when comparing to first place, it means you always lose. You lack something to get you into fist.

This is something I struggle with to this day. I was asked to write that extra credit assignment four years ago and I still find myself on that podium in second place. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to get into first place. I’m trying to stop seeing things as a competition, because I realized IT DOESN’T MATTER.

Before God, there is no podium. He does not compare us to one another. So my question is: why should we?