Once there was an emperor whose kingdom bordered two others.

His Medium-size Kingdom bordered the Grand Kingdom that had many natural resources, lots of farmland, an exquisite Royal palace, and generations of rulership under a benevolent family. It also bordered the Humble Kingdom, which had very few resources, not much farmland, and a small Palace for the small Royal family.

Every year the emperor of this Medium-sized Kingdom would make three times as many visits to the Grand Kingdom as he did the Humble Kingdom, always impressed with the latest innovations the wealthier kingdom was able to implement.  The emperor would arrive home, meet with the Royal treasurer and immediately demand tax hikes and longer working hours from his people in order to keep up with the Grand Kingdom.

But when he arrived home from his visits to the Humble Kingdom, the emperor would frequently relax, and sometimes even call for a special holiday in his Medium-size Kingdom.

After one such visit, he sat at the dinner table with his wife who pointed out that when he spent so much time visiting the Grand Kingdom he came home anxious, demanding, and unhappy. But when he returned home from The Humble Kingdom he was much more relaxed, content, and even grateful.

So the queen asked: Why don't you spend more time visiting the Humble Kingdom than the Grand Kingdom?

Friemds, a secret to happiness is to always compare downwards, not upwards.

This Sunday, the Church commemorates Christ the King Sunday, and a chance for us to reflect upon the kingdoms we visit. How much time are we spending in the Grand Kingdom versus The Humble Kingdom?

Should we be spending less time comparing upward and more time comparing downward?