The Human Race
Posted in Business, Motivational, Relationships, Spiritual
I know this post will not sit right with some people, but I encourage you to read it to the end before you argue the point. I wish to debunk the statement: “Life is not a competition.” I am not sure where that idea originated, but there is no truth to it, and I will prove it to you.
Competition is not a bad thing, in fact, it is very positive and helps us excel in our endeavors. The race begins at conception. Normal sperm count can range from 15 million to as high as 300 million sperm per milliliter. All of those are vying to fertilize an egg.
After birth, we compete as children for the attention we need from our family. The race continues as we compete for grades, athletic competitions, music and art competitions, etc. We compete to get into certain schools, and once we have our degree, we compete to either get more degrees or a job in the workplace. Even if we are self-employed, we compete with others for our market share.
We compete for dates and for spouses. When we are not competing with others, we compete with ourselves to improve, achieve, and excel in life. It is for our own good that we compete.
I realize that some are thinking everyone should get a ribbon when they compete. If they are special needs children or adults, that argument might have some merit, but even the special needs children and adults have Special Olympics. There is something inside each of us that wants to be recognized for doing the best we can, and have others see it as well.
The Bible even talks about competition in a positive way. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So, run that you may obtain it.”
In the movie Chariots of Fire (an amazing movie if you have not seen it), Eric Liddell was to run in the Olympics. I realize the quote may just be from a Hollywood screenwriter, but it was based upon his true life events. In the movie he said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure.”
In the race we call life, isn’t that what we all desire: to know God’s purpose, run to win, and feel God’s pleasure?”
May you run to win!
Shalom!
Daniel Skognes