Schadenfreude - shameful joy

"To have envy is human, to have shameful joy, devilish."

Schadenfreude is about pleasure that is derived from the misfortunes of others. The likelihood of you feeling schadenfreude is when you compare with people around you who are about the same as you in age, social background and exposure.

I hope to never feel like that. But we can never say. Have you secretly had a twinge of pleasure when you see your classmate doing not as well in a test/exam? I have. I guess you feel that when you compare.

If we have no basis for comparisons, schadenfreude will not occur. Like for example, when someone's favourite grandmother passes away, will you derive pleasure? No. Because you may not even have a favourite grandmother. Moreover, it is a death! If you gloat, you are seriously off centre.

When you see an adult friend losing a huge sum of money in the financial meltdown, do you derive pleasure? No. Because she is an adult and you are still a student. So there is no basis for comparison. So, what you will feel for her is immense sympathy and helplessness.

But face it, we see so many people who are so similar to us. They are clad in jeans and tee, have the same hairstyle, share almost the same opportunities as you (or at least this is what our meritocratic system is making us think). There are endless platforms to compare.

Comparison is inevitable.... Unless you know who you are.

If you know you are unique, one-of-a-kind, would you bother comparing?
Because you are already the pinnacle, the best.

Sadly, a lot of us always forget about this intangible truth when we see the tangible entities and listen to what other people say.

Fact is, we are all unique, the best.

Someone asked, how can God create everyone to be the best? I am the best? That means there must be someone out there who is "better" and maybe just a "good"?

Now if we think like that, we are bounded by our human intelligence, looking at yourself according to human measurement.

In the supernatural realm, why isn't it impossible for everyone to be the best?

So quit having schdenfreude. To say it nicely, it is human nature, but if ever such a thought creep in to me again, may the Lord chide me and renew my heart!