Comparison Distraction
Jesus can get sassy sometimes…
In the gospel of John chapter 21 Jesus is speaking to the disciples and in typical fashion, at least one is not “getting it.”
Jesus is outlining to Peter how his life is going to play out. To be fair, the future Jesus painted for Peter included an unpleasant ending. After hearing the news, Peter (apparently upset) turns to the disciple John and says to Jesus, “What about him!?”
Jesus replied, “What is that to you? You follow me!”
This answer (though difficult to receive) was a healthy one. And Peter was better for having received it. The answer put the spotlight and the responsibility back where it needed to be—on Peter.
In this moment Peter did what we are so very good at—focusing on others.
Think about it…
There are economies wrapped up in the business of focusing on the failure of celebrities (think actors, athletes, politicians). News and social media outlets broadcast their “shameful” behavior and we lap it up.
Why?
Because if we can focus on others, we won’t have the time or space to focus on ourselves.
If you are like me, you might build continuums in your mind that compare your behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes with others. It feels great when you are on the “winning” side of this comparison—though at other times you might find yourself on the “losing” end of this spectrum as well.
This is the kind of distraction Jesus called out in Peter.
Confronting the truth of our current situations can be difficult, especially when we assume others are doing better than us.
Part of what we do at CornerStone is help the participants who engage in our classes establish a baseline of where they currently are in order to grow toward their future goals. We are able to do this because each participant is surrounded by a team of encouraging mentors and a supportive community who authentically share, “I have been there too, and you can do this.”
On the other side of the “door” of truth is freedom—freedom to address our hang-ups and hardships, and instead pursue wholeness.
The seemingly harsh words of Jesus, “None of your business, follow me” can ultimately be a liberating word or us if we are willing to receive it.