LOVED THE POST! I wrote a novel (below) about semantics… maybe I should have just typed, “LOL!” Love your posts, Acuff! Thanks for all you do!
I do have to say a kind of caveat or semantic point… as a musician, it’s important for me to be aware of “levels” for lack of a better term. When I started playing the sax, I listened to a lot of Charlie Parker and Art Pepper and I needed to compare and copy in order to grow. The difference is that I wasn’t assuming that this was the final stage of my growth as a musician and therefore, if I fell short I was counted, measured and judged as “not good enough.” But, instead, I was measuring against the cream of the crop of sax players so that I could tell when I was improving and by how much. Sure, I could have measured myself against myself but it’s a lot harder to get a “yard marker” that way since your performance will be intuitively “compared” by your audience. The same goes in my faith; I surround myself with people who are so much better at loving others and ultimately, I compare my ability to love and serve against the greatest: Jesus. I know I’ll never live up, but it keeps me from the feeling that I have arrived and makes me ask God to extend my ability to love and serve a little more each day.
Point being, I compare to measure growth on a certain, specific skill or task, not to measure my overall personal value which can never be the sum of any individual or group of tasks but is found in the uniqueness of our creation. The thought that Christ rose and ascended to the throne as King of All and with the same act, confirmed the unique value of each of His individual creations – “…saw that it was good.” through the eyes of the Redeemer. It doesn’t matter how well I play the sax, my value is found because He valued me enough to die for me.
Too preachy? lol …well, someone has to “troll” every once in a while… j/k
hahahahaha… so awesome… that’s why i’m your fan…
Point taken! 😉
You nailed it. That is powerful!
I can’t believe you forgot this!
2.
ha! Yep. It’s an infinite list
I just clicked back and forth looking for the post and wasted a good three or four minutes. I can be slow that way.
Point taken!
Thank you.
Perfect!
One of the best teachings I have ever received is “stay on your own path”.
Brilliant!
This is dead on! Plus bonus points to you Jon for the shortest blog post I have ever seen that actually has value. 🙂
I agree. There should be an award for this. As this in the inaugural award, let’s call it, “The Acuffs”.
Brilliant! Hilarious!
So the point is that it is a waste of time to compare your success to others.
I think that about covers it. Thanks for your research. And for the reminder.
I love #1!
Oh Jon, you missed this one! You forgot:
1.) Anxiety
2.) Depression
3.) Sadness
4.) Loneliness
5.) Low Self Worth
Oh wait…you said GOOD things. My bad.
Here’s what I would ad to your list.
2.)
Amen!
Brilliant
Well done, Jon. AWESOME post…and as true as queso is delicious.
Ha! Oh so bloody true! Such a nasty game to play. You never win.
One of the world’s shortest yet most profound blog post. Kudos Jon!
Totally agreed!
Jon, thanks for the subtle reminder! I struggle with this and have to stay focused on what I can control and not worry about the things I can’t.
That’s awesome!
That about sums it up.
Pure genius.
Brilliant! Lol.
People make themselves so miserable with comparisons!
Boom
Heh heh. Indeed.
LOVED THE POST! I wrote a novel (below) about semantics… maybe I should have just typed, “LOL!” Love your posts, Acuff! Thanks for all you do!
I do have to say a kind of caveat or semantic point… as a musician, it’s important for me to be aware of “levels” for lack of a better term. When I started playing the sax, I listened to a lot of Charlie Parker and Art Pepper and I needed to compare and copy in order to grow. The difference is that I wasn’t assuming that this was the final stage of my growth as a musician and therefore, if I fell short I was counted, measured and judged as “not good enough.” But, instead, I was measuring against the cream of the crop of sax players so that I could tell when I was improving and by how much. Sure, I could have measured myself against myself but it’s a lot harder to get a “yard marker” that way since your performance will be intuitively “compared” by your audience. The same goes in my faith; I surround myself with people who are so much better at loving others and ultimately, I compare my ability to love and serve against the greatest: Jesus. I know I’ll never live up, but it keeps me from the feeling that I have arrived and makes me ask God to extend my ability to love and serve a little more each day.
Point being, I compare to measure growth on a certain, specific skill or task, not to measure my overall personal value which can never be the sum of any individual or group of tasks but is found in the uniqueness of our creation. The thought that Christ rose and ascended to the throne as King of All and with the same act, confirmed the unique value of each of His individual creations – “…saw that it was good.” through the eyes of the Redeemer. It doesn’t matter how well I play the sax, my value is found because He valued me enough to die for me.
Too preachy? lol …well, someone has to “troll” every once in a while… j/k
Brilliant.
I knew that was your answer before “reading” it! Lol
This list is epic.
If I posted the same list I’ll bet no one would notice, but who’s comparing. 🙂
LOL Dan!
Brilliant!
Ain’t that the truth!
I wish I could come up with a list as good as that!
Oh, hang on…
My list is better. Just sayin’
Hey Jon,
Funny, as I was reading this title… my first thought was “nothing good”.
Ah, geez! That took me a minute…which it always does. Thanks.
This is hilarious!
This is the first post I have ever read where the title is not only longer than the content itself. But WAYYY longer than the content.