Competition

A little less controversial this week, but no less pertinent is the topic of competition. This subject has many beneficial downstream effects to it: pushing the individual to perform better, companies to make quality goods cheaper and systems to run more efficiently. It can also be detrimental, particularly in the individual who is not mentally prepared - leading to doubt, insecurity and shame. The ability to grow and develop resilience from failure (leading to being able to compete again) needs to be taught and ingrained early; both in a fledgling business culture and in individual people.

Recently my eldest child took part in a school sports carnival - the first of what I'm sure is to be an illustrious school sporting career! It was a great morning; firstly at home trying to anticipate the events that might be on offer, which friends might be a part of his new house colours (see picture above - GO YELLOW!!) and the nervous energy being expended "practicing" running, jumping and anything in between. When we made it to school, the course and events were all set out in house colours and some outlandish outfits worn by parents and teachers in support! Flashbacks of my own school carnivals arose when I was asked to participate in the parent's race (much to my family's shame, I was not the fastest daddy on the day!)

A major highlight was the sprint event - none of this egg and spoon stuff - just all out speed to see which child was the fastest (to quote a favourite at my house, in the words of Lightning McQueen "I am speed!"). The best part about watching this as a parent was seeing each child as they ran looking around to see where their little friends were rather than looking at the finish line! This resulted in a few unauthorised lane changes and more than a few competitors being cut off from making their progress. The spirit of competition was strong and a few tears shed and egos bruised when not first across the finish line.

My children are also notorious for doing this at home. When "having a race" with daddy they are very busy watching where daddy is rather than running straight; with a few near misses and injuries incurred cutting daddy off! There is the same strong desire to win and some upset egos when daddy exerts his dominance!

I have a secondary purpose behind these foot races we have at home. There are some life-lessons to be learned, and using the excitement and drive that is brought out through competition is hard to match for honing character traits that may later be needed during adversity.

1. Firstly there is the issue of straight lines. It is very difficult to reassure my children that if they take their focus off other competitors and keep their eyes on the finish line (or beyond it), that they will actually finish faster and with greater efficiency. While the lesson is for my kids, its also for me; to take my focus off the success of those around me and focus on the course set specifically for me. Sure it would be great to have a nicer car, bigger house, a seemingly more interesting job (my job is pretty fulfilling the majority of the time!) that others around me have; but my "life race" will not be achieved by those things.
2. The issue of winning vs losing, and more importantly completing the race regardless. It is easy for my kids to complete races when they are winning (or at least close). When clearly losing or they have fallen during the run, there would often be tantrums and a refusal to finish. This issue I have painstakingly tried to work on (and the reason why sometimes daddy doesn't let the kids win); trying to get the balance right about running to win, but being ok with losing and having the perseverance to complete the race. Here I am trying to teach them to enjoy knowing they have given their best effort whatever the result. Pleasingly the kids are getting this and far fewer tantrums occur (it could also be that they are getting faster and winning more!)

Watching the kids gives me great insight on life lessons for myself - staying in my own lane, running my own race well and with perseverance. Being able to carry this out with focus, ignoring all the superfluous distractions and holding our priorities out in front to aim at is critical to achieving anything worthwhile in this life. Once more the wisdom that can be gathered from watching and interacting with children is priceless!!

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith." Heb 12 v 1b -2a

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Cor 9 v 24