Haven't we all met people who astound us because of their incredible talents and abilities? It can be inspiring to see them in action. And in the worlds of business, entertainment, and even sports, published lists encourage us to read all about the "Most Influential CEOs," "A-list Stars," and "Most Valuable Players." Personal accomplishments can often make people seem larger than life, even superhuman, in what they've been able to achieve. And it can be puzzling to try to figure out what makes someone else more adept or successful at something than we are. I've found, in my own life, comparisons have tended to magnify my weaknesses and lead to feelings of helplessness and discouragement. But when I pray for a more spiritual view, a transformation in my thought and experience takes place.

Recently, I found myself trapped in a cycle of comparing myself with others. I became well acquainted with a group of people who exhibited incredible talents and abilities, and I was frequently in awe of their accomplishments. Even though I was delighted to enjoy their company, it seemed I would never attain their level of accomplishment. Although I appreciated the fact that each one was reflecting God's goodness, I began to feel inadequate and second rate. Jealousy even started to creep into my thoughts.

I knew that these feelings were impositions trying to gain a foothold in my life because my great love for these friends was indisputable. As a student of Christian Science, I knew the benefits of getting beyond what I was seeing on the surface and praying to understand any situation from a higher spiritual perspective.

I began my prayers by acknowledging God's power and goodness. The Bible contains countless examples that prove God is the only Creator. The Psalmist says, "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" (Ps. 100:3). Since I had come to know God as my Maker, it naturally followed that I was, by nature of reflection, also "very good" (Gen. 1:31). As such, I could only find my true self in discovering more of the infinite nature and magnificence of God and not by comparing and contrasting my human abilities and talents with others'.

As I prayed, I thought about a helpful spiritual analogy. If I looked out a window and saw a beautiful view, would I ever give credit to the window for creating the view? No! The beauty would be in the scenery. The window would just be the transparency through which I could appreciate the scene.

In this analogy, if each of us, as God's children, are the window, we can become a clear transparency that enables others to see the glorious wonders of God's work. The cleaner the window, the more spectacular the view. As we get rid of jealousy and the idea that we're personal creators of wonder and beauty, our thoughts embrace God. Then, we're better able to uniquely and individually express Him. Instead of viewing ourselves as possessing our own little bundle of skills, some excellent and some underdeveloped, we begin to see that our very being is evidence of God's perfect work.

Jesus was the ultimate example of this pure transparency. He said in the Gospel of John, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (5:30). Jesus was able to heal and bless others, in part because his work was completely devoid of personal achievement, recognition, or selfish ambition. Everything he did was to glorify God and to be that "clear window" through which people could see God's immeasurable goodness. He proved through his healing work that this good was immediately available even to those who thought they were unworthy, unloved, and left out of mainstream society. I realized that Jesus' ministry didn't belong exclusively to him; it was an expression of God's excellence.

As I think about my prayers during that time, I'm reminded of a vivid example of how important it is to reject the idea that constant comparison is inevitable. One day, I'd been heading out to a professional baseball game and got a call from a friend whose high school baseball team was pitching against their toughest competition the next day. My friend was nervous and uncertain about his ability to pitch essentially comparing what he had to offer with the skills of the opposing team. My friend and I agreed to pray together and trust that all he would ever need comes from God, under all circumstances. And he could have fun knowing this spiritual fact, and glorify God during his game.

After our phone conversation, I headed out the door to attend the professional game. It happened that the pitcher on the opposing team was one of the top-ranked pitchers in the Major Leagues that season. As I watched the game with thousands of fans, I appreciated how this man expressed God beautifully through his talent. And I knew that my friend, even though he wasn't pitching at the professional level, uniquely expressed the same God-given ability. In fact, his expression of pitching skills was just as important. I continued to rejoice in this evidence of God's perfection throughout the game.

The next day, my friend called me and was delighted to report that he'd pitched his best game ever, fearlessly and with joy. A verse from the Bible highlighted my realization that evening, "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34).

In my own life, as my thoughts gradually shifted away from the trap of comparison, I began to enjoy a freer, more spontaneous appreciation for my friends, and lingering thoughts of jealousy, inadequacy, and inferiority dropped away. A bonus was that now I had a better, more genuine recognition that I was helping to express God's goodness in my own unique way.

This line in Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy points to what we're all capable of as spiritual ideas: "To my sense, we have not seen all of man; he is more than personal sense can cognize, who is the image and likeness of the infinite" (p. 97).

I've learned that the good we see in others isn't of their own doing; it comes from God. This excellence that we recognize is ours to enjoy and be blessed by in countless ways. If we love the source of all good, God Himself, we can't help but appreciate what each person has to give, including ourselves. icss