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April-June, 2015

The One About Lesson 2

by Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C.

“I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] all the meaning it has for me.” (W-pI.2)

It was Sunday, February 1st, about noon. I was up at our cabin on Whidbey Island preparing for my partner, Nancy, (who was in Seattle picking up my granddaughter,) and about a dozen friends, who were coming over to watch the Superbowl. I had the big screen TV on the pre game activities. Company was starting to arrive with enough food and treats to party through the evening, and Nancy made the 1:30 ferry. This game was going to be the most watched event in history! All was well! All was perfect!

By the time the game started the cabin could scarcely hold in the merriment, camaraderie, joy and hysterical screaming as we all cheered for our Seahawks. No way were we going to lose! In the midst of our gathering, I looked around at everyone and felt so much peace. It was just a Sunday afternoon and the unity and fellowship and singleness of purpose were expanding the energy of love immeasurably. Were we in the company of the Holy Spirit or hanging out with the ego? Guess what meaning I assigned to the day! The lead in the game changed several times, but no worry — our combined faith, would overcome any score deficit.

Twenty some seconds left, we were 34 inches from the goal line. We had three chances to score. All we had to do was give the ball to our running back, the greatest running back in all of football this year, get out of his way and the victory would be ours! The second Superbowl win in two years! We were near riotous with joyful anticipation! Then came what is now referred to as the worst play call in Superbowl history. We passed the ball and it was intercepted. Game over. The impossible became possible. We lost.

Heaven became hell. Discouraged, resentful, angry and disbelieving what we just witnessed, everyone left. I apologized to my granddaughter for such a debacle, Nancy had to catch a ferry, a couple of friends glanced at the mess everywhere and offered to help clean up, but I said, “No.” I wanted to be alone. How could this have happened? What a terrible day, what a terrible game, what a terrible coach to call such a terrible play. Hey, I know it was only a game, but I was almost sick to my stomach.

I sat on the couch to go over again what happened; apparently I was planning on making myself even feel worse, when I thought of lesson 2. Didn’t I just spend one of the happiest afternoons of my life with loved ones and friends? What happened to the love? It wasn’t even in my consciousness. Did the outcome of a game destroy the joy we all felt for seven hours? When you are mentally ill, the answer seems to be “yes!”

Did I (and only me) give the day all the meaning it had for me? I went from heaven to hell by a perception? Why would I do that? I physically felt peace flow into me. I looked around the cabin again and saw no mess at all, only remnants of day filled with love. What power to be able to give anything and everything at anytime whatever meaning I want to! I didn’t lose anything, I won! Can happiness really be as easy as, “seeing things differently?” That almost sounds like a miracle, huh!

Just this morning I was asked at a coffee shop, “Where were you at that horrible moment?” I smiled and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about, that was one of the best days of my life!” (Believe me, I’m used to people looking at me as if I’m crazy.) PS. For the record, the Patriots didn’t really win, we handed them the game!

© 2015, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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