Scoreboards

Scoreboards drive us, and, in particular me. It is as if I need to keep score to gauge my value to society. I believe deep down, we are all built to keep score. We have to know where we stand versus other people. We can’t rest unless we know the score. Our barometer, our measuring stick, is our community.

This begins early in life. Parents compare their children to others. When did they start crawling or walking? What about talking? Parents compare their parenting skills to others. Young fathers and mothers compare their mojo to others.

Then, as kids grow up, the comparisons get tougher for the children and the parents. Take sports. Last year, I was at a youth basketball game that broke out in a fight. One player punched (yes punched) another in the face, drew blood, and the stands cleared. For a few minutes, all control had been lost. At a youth baseball game, I saw parents from opposing teams go toe-to-toe. Additionally, I have witnessed parents making their sons do push-ups in the middle of practice for making an error. When did parents take control of practices?

All of this leads to one thing, a scoreboard. Parents keep score, comparing children versus each other. Kids take notice of their moms and dads living vicariously through them and begin keeping score against each other.

The comparisons don’t stop with sports. Academics is just as bad. Are my kids going to the right schools? The pressure really begins on the children when it comes time for the college entrance exams. The scoreboard is intensified with ACT, SAT scores. This, of course, leads to the university scoreboard, who can go to the most prestigious school.

No wonder that by the time our kids reach the working world, their value is tied to the things of this world. We have taught them to find their value in the things of this world.

I have not even mentioned the social scoreboards that exist. Everyone lives a perfect life on social media. They put their best out there for the world to see, causing a culture of comparisons. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms seem to be a popularity contest driving unreal expectations. Linkedin has brought scoreboards to the professional world. Before your very eyes are titles, awards, pictures, and achievements for everyone you ever knew. You can quickly gauge your “success” versus your peers. If you aren’t happy, look around for a new gig within Linkedin.

Scoreboards lead to a feeling of not being fulfilled. After all, someone is always better, more successful, has a stronger title and profession. No wonder children of today are entering college with more mental issues than ever before.

So, how do we combat this barrage of comparisons? Is it hopeless? Well, the Bible gives us a fresh perspective on life. Whether you are a believer of the Bible or an atheist, Ecclesiastes presents a case, a remedy for fulfillment in a hopeless world. This book sits on almost every shelf in America. If it is even remotely true that Ecclesiastes could be a remedy to the scoreboard, don’t we owe it to ourselves to check it out?