America is using its unique measurements. Again.
No, I’m not talking to the metric system.
I’m referring to the Olympic Games medal table.
For, right now, across most of the globe, America is running fifth with six gold medals - one behind Australia - five in arrears of the leader China who has 11 golds.
But, in the Land of the Free and the Brave, The USA is on top.
Why?
Because, they count every medal awarded in their tally.
In this case, the Yanks are top of the table, five ahead of the hosts.
And they want to be seen as the top of the medal count.
While, inevitably, the US will come out on top by either measurement, I think it’s telling that they use a scale early in the Games to inflate their initial standing.
For, what you measure and the way you measure are very telling.
It reveals what you value.
It reveals how you want to be viewed.
And the same temptation exists within churches and schools.
You can use measurements to appear better than reality.
You can restrict what you measure to obscure what’s actually going on.
You can emphasise only the data you want.
Of course, we want to appear at our best and, if we find a metric to reinforce this than we will ensure that this measurement is publicised widely.
So, no matter if it’s a church, school, athletic body or political party, what you measure and the manner you measure it, can reveal a great deal about the ones doing the measuring.
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