Comparisons should come with warning labels and spiritual safety glasses. In a world where likes are tallied and people can be “cancelled,” comparing our lives to the lives of others can have drastic consequences.

I’ve been watching way too much YouTube recently and one line that is universal to every video is, “Hit the like button.” Indicating you like the video and, if you want to see more of the creator’s content, subscribing to the channel are inputs to the complex calculation that is supposed to spread the creator’s content and recommend it to others who have similar viewing habits. Yet it feels as if, no matter where you go in society, everyone has a similar mentality of getting likes or positive online reviews, no matter how small the interaction. Every time I use a service or order online, it seems like I receive a survey so that I can provide my judgement of the experience. While it’s good to seek out how to improve, oftentimes it seems like I’m being asked to participate in a marketing ploy so that the company can use those favorite advertising descriptions like most popular and best seller. These statements may seem harmless on the surface, but for those with a competitive nature, it’s a subtle cue that triggers a desire to want the item, just because the proverbial everyone has it. We don’t even realize that these statements are causing us to compare ourselves with others, about whom the only thing we know is their purchase of that item or service.

In the carefully curated world of social media, we can do physiological damage to ourselves if we compare our lives with the lives of others. Even for those who keep it “real,” we are only seeing a small sliver of their life. We all know that life is complicated and challenging to navigate, and each person faces their own unique trials and issues. Yet all too often we pass judgement, either on those we see or on ourselves for not achieving what the content creator did. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus warns us, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Lk 6:41) A splinter in the eye sounds painfully horrid, but the reason Jesus uses the eye is because it’s through our eyes that we see the world and make comparisons of ourselves and others. Our eyes are constantly taking in the world around us and making micro decisions about our environment, looking for potential dangers, as well as noticing delicious food or something that will help us in our life. When our sight is hindered or blocked, we cannot get a full understanding of our circumstances and certainly not that of anyone else. Most often we fail to recognize our faults and yet feel empowered to tell others about how they can correct theirs, regardless of whether or not they sought our input. 

Comparisons can be a tool, if we use them properly. If we look to another and notice their words and actions bring the love and peace of God to others, then we can look to them as a role model. Mary and all the saints are role models for us to follow. However, if a person seems to sow division and accusations, we want to be sure we don’t mimic their behavior. We should not judge them, only use that example to cleanse us of bad habits. If we see similar traits reflected in our own behavior, rather than condemning another, we should seek God’s mercy and grace, not just only for ourselves, but also the person that is suffering in a similar way. Even better is to ask God to help all those who are stuck in that same negative trait. 

Life is not a contest for the most number of likes; each of us suffers with eye splinters. Let us seek God’s grace and mercy to address our words and actions that don’t bring His love and light to those around us.