Comparison is the Thief of Joy

There's a lot of rumblings (at least across my feed) lately about the deleterious effects of comparison. There's due warrant - the amount of people comparing their lives to the procured images and videos found on social media can make just about anyone second-guess their pursuits - parenting, relationships, work habits, athletics, beauty... the list goes on. 

But not all comparison is the "thief of joy". 

The quote is credited to Theodore Roosevelt: "Comparison is the thief of joy." While TR was many things, this quote has resonated for over 100 years now. 

This past week Hurricane Helene ripped her way through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. The devastation throughout her path was severe. Notably, as a carolinian, the flooding in the Appalachian mountains was catastrophic. One news outlet claimed it was a "1,000 year event" - something so significant it would only occur once in a thousand years. That's crazy. But we're starting to see the destruction - over 100 lives have been lost, along with countless homes, businesses, and around the western Carolinas, entire roadways and bridges, leaving many quite literally stranded without power, water and other basic necessities. 

Thankfully, the response has been overwhelming. I saw the sports ticker reporting that a few NFL franchise owners were contributing millions towards aid, the POTUS promising support, and even here in Indian Trail, hundreds (thousands) of people bringing supplies to a crew of private pilots air-lifting water, wipes, rope, tarps and nonperishable food from the Statesville airport to the areas that are unreachable by vehicle. 

This morning as I was playing 'dad-taxi' (that's where I drive my kids around to where they need to go), I was burdened with the relief effort. Something about the damage from Helene has struck a chord in me more than other natural disasters. Perhaps it's the proximity to me - just a few hours away. Or even that we vacationed there last winter, taking our kids on their first snowboarding adventure. Or that some good friends of ours recently moved to Asheville to launch a new church and find themselves in one of the hardest hit parts of Asheville. 

Needless to say, I really want to help. More than just buying supplies and sending them, I want to be there to help. 

This is where comparison didn't steal my joy; it solidified it. This weekend, while thousands of people were praying to survive Helene, I was sitting comfortably in a recovery room with my wife (post successful surgery - another story for another time). We safely drove home on roads that were minorly affected. I watched Alabama narrowly defeat Georgia and was complaining nonstop about how we almost blew the lead. I was able to drive my three kids to our church Sunday morning and see four children get dedicated to God, hear stories from kids and youth and adults about how God had been bringing life in them and through them, and receive warm hugs and encouragement from countless individuals that are a part of my spiritual family, blood-bought brothers and sisters in Christ. 

All the while people were seeing their homes carried down rivers, entire roadways swept aside by mudslides, lacking the ability to contact friends, family or neighbors as the cell phone towers were down, seeking basic necessities like water. 

I am prone to 'compassion fatigue' just like you are. My encouragement to you (if you're still reading) is to realize that your current situation is better than others. If you're reading this from the comfort of your home, on your mobile device, without a concern that you have enough drinking water for you and your loved ones - you're better off than my neighbors in the carolina mountains. 

The Biblical invitation (command?) is to "Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GNT) 

And I would add another invitation (also a command) found in James 2:15-16 (ESV) "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

I invite you to joy and gratitude for the good things you have.

I invite you to pray for those effected by Hurricane Helene.

I invite you also provide for those in need in the aftermath of Helene.