H, 
It is funny how the human heart works. Remember how we used to speak of schadenfreude,
that evil feeling we would get when that other football team got their dreams
taken from them. It was all fun and games but, to be honest, we frequently get
that sense in real life. Even more, we get it, when we think of those who stand
in our way or have no regard for our beliefs or do what we term, a greater evil.
We get a sense that their comeuppance is justice and our elusive punishment is
grace.
The truth is we are actively in competition with others. It may not
always manifest itself in material things. We may not care how much money a
person has or how far along they are on their career path. What we compete in
is specific to us. We think ourselves superior to those who live in darkness,
who are not ‘deep’, who cannot follow our virtues and even those who do not share
our vices. Our sense of worth keeps being strung along by an external source
and so we keep up with those rules that promote self above the real needs of
love. We do this without thought. It is an automatic response to living in the
dirt of present earth. Every day is a reminder that we must put some purpose and
power to ourselves. The beauty of the Church experience does not diminish this
myth. Even there we are valuing ourselves in terms of giving and not in terms
of being.
Two final thoughts: first, the end of this competitive spirit is to hate.
When it has had its full day, you will hate the person you compete against. It will
not happen fast, in many cases. It is a subtle slide into the dark. There is no
telling what your hate will make you do.
Second, and finally, the end of all competition should be what our faith
represents. This light tells us that value does not lie in doing but in being. No
one is more valued because of what they bring or what they do but because of
who they are. We must let this sink in. Our inherent value is made manifest in
the Love of God. Love is the only thing that gives real value. And that love
from above must be our watchword in going forward. We must love more and compete
less. We must love more and do everything else less.