Comparisons... and purple cows

When will I ever just grow up and recognize that it's okay to be different? Maybe this is another people-pleasing/ pride issue, but as I get older I still struggle with comparisons.

I'll never forget the time I sent out one of my earlier email ministry updates full of fluff and family nonsense. When I clicked "send and receive" (remember when those things didn't used to be automatic?), in came a prayer letter from a very articulate, erudite, "real" missionary (as opposed to a stay-at-home mom). The contrast was downright embarrassing. He was exegeting/exegesising (?) scripture, and challenging his readers. Okay, I didn't understand half of what he said, but he said it so well! It's a wonder I didn't give up writing forever.

Just to torture myself, I went back and reread my opening paragraph in the letter this same man would be receiving from me. I had begun with a silly observation about a small herd of cows the local priest had blessed and painted purple. It made me remember the old children's poem, which I quoted in my ridiculous (never-should-have-sent) email:

I never saw a purple cow

I never hope to see one

But I can tell you anyhow

I'd rather see than be one.

Yep, folks, I actually started my update by admitting my remorse over never being able to honestly quote that poem again.

The comparison made me want to crawl under my bed and cry. From that day on, I'm not sure my prayer letters were ever quite as light-hearted. One reason I wanted to start this blog was to tell all the frivolous stories that never made it into my updates.

Today I spent some time browsing through some of my favorite blogs, and faced the inevitable temptation to change my focus to be more like theirs. More photos, less writing. Some of you (Hannah!) would be thrilled if I did. But you know what? This blog is about memories and stories, and most happened so long ago I have very few photos, and it takes too long to rip them out of photo albums and scan into the computer.

Young missionaries can post lots of digital photos and say very little, but us old ones will still have to resort to word pictures. Much as I would love to please everyone, I just can't. (If I ever see another purple cow, I'll take a digital photo and post it later....)

There you have it. So what are the purple cows in your life? Or have you outgrown the childish propensity to make comparisons?

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons." 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (New American Standard Bible)