Think you’re special?

 

Gene Mage

 

An ancient Jewish writer once wrote, “God does not show favoritism.”  I’ve been thinking a lot about those words lately.  Many centuries later, another ancient writer wrote, “Do not show favoritism.”  And as I pondered those words, it struck me what a difficult request that writer was making.

 

In the context of old Jerusalem, even under Roman occupation, life was nothing if not a complex web of class distinctions.  Everyone knew their role and what was expected, from kings to servants, emperors to slaves.  One would get the impression that people of that day did little more than work furiously to break into the next social strata through wealth, education, and the pursuit of political power.  Jews and gentiles alike wanted the privileges of their social class.  They expected a level of deference and a measure of respect, given their superior position.

 

I’m sure glad 21st century society has matured so much since those backward biblical times. (I’m kidding, ok?)  Today we stand on the shoulders of the enlightenment. We have conquered time, space, and matter. And, most importantly, we have freed ourselves from enslavement to old dark and musty dogma.  With liberated minds, we relish our freedoms, intellectual advancement, and social tolerance. 

 

Until, that is, we get to the airport.  The centurion (ie: ticket agent) at the check in desk begins the process of social stratification.  At the top are Platinum Medallion Million Mile members, who are entitled to larger seats, early boarding, and free cocktails en route to our modern day Jerichos.  Next come the gold, silver, bronze, and, heaven forbid, blue club members, who, in order of their accumulated mileage, may receive first class upgrades, more legroom, or at least first crack at the overhead luggage bins. 

 

“What?  No first class upgrades?” complains the smartly dressed executive heading for Cleveland.  “Do you know who I am?” he fusses and fumes in a toddler-like tantrum, “I want to see your supervisor.  You won’t be working here long!”  Put another way, this impatient, demanding frequent flyer cannot fathom that some lesser person would get the seat he wants.  He wants to be treated with the partiality he has worked so hard to get.

 

Later that afternoon, as the perky real estate agent shows a charming young couple around town, the topic of neighborhoods fills the air.  “This is where you want to live.  All the top people live up here.  You get a really nice view of the valley below,” she explained matter-of-factly.  “You really get a different element down on the east-side.  It’s not a better neighborhood.” This charming young couple will take on a second job, put in extra hours, and adopt a workaholic schedule in order to live among those who are “their type.”  They want the privilege of living apart from lesser beings.

 

I guess our entire economy operates on the principle of upward economic mobility.  We work hard, go to school, and climb business and social ladders in order to get up into the rarified air of exclusivity.  There is something inside that simply must feel just a bit better than mere mortals.  As it is up in Lake Wobegon, all our children must be above average.

 

We want to be winners.  We want to be recognized for ascending the pyramid.  To do otherwise would be positively unpatriotic.  If we are not scratching and clawing our way up into the first class cabin each day the economy will grind to a screeching halt.

 

But whatever level of the pyramid you were born on, raised in, and find yourself today, remember that in the eyes of God there are no favorites.  The moment you think to yourself that you are somehow more valuable, “better” than others, pick up your heel and step down firmly upon your other foot.  Then, in the midst of the throbbing pain, thank God you caught yourself before that thought took root.

 

Syndicated columnist Gene C. Mage is author of the book Managing for High Performance.  To contact Gene, visit www.makingitwork.com.

 

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