The need to dominate and to control can be extremely harmful. This competitive spirit is causing such devastation and unhappiness in the Ukraine in these days. Yet we see that same desire to be in control in some many circumstances. I know that competition can be a spur for achievement but very often it can be the cause of dispute and fractured relationships.
There is, I think, a better way to achieve excellence and good results. The key for me is to reflect on God as our creator who has made us in his own image. My understanding is that God as creator had done so out of the sheer desire and joy to make something wonderful. We, who I believe are made in his image, also have that joy in creativity. It gives me real satisfaction to do something well and to see people making good. God himself is not competitive because by his very nature there is no competition for God! We share that creativity which surely is the best way forward for us as well. The desire to create something of worth is a much better motivator than the wish to donate and control.
We all have a creative spark within us which can be used to make this world a richer, safer and better place for humanity. Some have creativity in bucketloads. They are the great composers, artists of every kind, poets, writers and so on. I even think sports people are creative because what is more exhilarating than seeing grace and excellence in sporting performance. However most of us have limited abilities and can never achieve the heights of the most talented. I wonder whether that is an advantage sometimes, because we do not have such a great responsibility in sharing what we have! In all this we must harness of our own creative spark in whatever outlet we have to create something that is beautiful and good that brings joy to others and ourselves. Being creative I suggest brings more joy and harmony to our world than being competitive and it rarely causes dispute!
Anthony Ellis.