April 24: Your Own Page
At the meeting, someone said they finished their inventory in a week. You’ve been at yours for three.
“But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
Comparison is sneaky. It shows up as “they’re doing better than me,” which leads to discouragement. It also shows up as “at least I’m not as bad as them,” which leads to pride. Either way, your eyes are on someone else’s page instead of your own.
Paul tells the Galatians: let each one test his own work. Then you’ll have something to be glad about in yourself, not in comparison with someone else. Each one carries his own load.
That’s freeing. Your inventory is yours. It doesn’t need to look like anybody else’s. It doesn’t need to be as long as theirs, or as short. It just needs to be honest, and it needs to be written.
Comparison also hides in the inventory itself. You might catch yourself writing, “Sure, I did that, but they did worse.” Or measuring your harms against the people at your meeting who seem to have done more damage. That kind of thinking keeps you from seeing your own part clearly.
At the same time, don’t let this become a reason to drag your feet forever. Testing your own work also means being honest about whether you’re actually moving. Many people find it helps to set a finish date a few weeks out. Then keep a steady pace toward it.
If you find yourself comparing, notice it and gently come back. Back to your own columns. Your own names. Your own part. That’s the only page God is asking you to write.
And when you see someone else doing well, let it encourage you rather than discourage you. If they can, you can too, at your own pace.
One thing today
Look at your own inventory today without thinking about anyone else’s. Write down how far you’ve come and pick a realistic finish date. Tell your sponsor the date.
A prayer
Lord, I keep looking at other people’s progress and feeling either better or worse. Help me keep my eyes on my own work. Thank You for meeting me where I am. Amen.
Keep working at Step Four.
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