I had the most amazing experience today as I was out and
about, running errands downtown. I was surprised to be unable to find a
parking space, since I usually park in front of my destination, regardless
how crowded the streets may be. I'd been circling the block for about
thirty minutes when I spotted a van on the corner ahead of me about to pull
out of its parking spot. As it moved out, I glided right on in... to see a
sleek BMW sedan just ahead flashing it's blinker as if it had been waiting
to back into the exact same spot. The flashy BMW slowly pulled back
alongside my car, and we both lowered our windows as soft flurries of rain
drizzled down from the sky. The BMW's driver was a 20-something Asian male
wearing black sunglasses, who crisply announced, "I was waiting for this
spot."
I replied, "I was waiting for this spot, too. I didn't see you there --
I've been circling this block for thirty minutes."
The Asian fellow furrowed his brow and looked very annoyed as he said,
"I've been circling for thirty minutes, too." As I looked at the young man,
I saw another myself. A younger, male, Asian version of myself, perhaps,
but I had a very clear sense that our roles could easily have been
reversed. Only a moment of time had passed as I gazed into the depths of
his Ray-Bans, yet I felt that there was only one course of action that
would give me peace of mind; to relinquish the parking spot. I replied,
"You can have this spot. It's yours," and pulled forward to watch the young
man park his BMW there. I sighed as I noticed he hadn't even said, "Thank
you," no doubt because he was sure that he was right and I was in the
wrong.
As I began to drive around the block one more time, I bit my lip and asked
Spirit, "WHY is this happening to me? I just don't get it." It was so
strange for me to be deprived of a parking spot for thirty minutes -- this
had never happened to me before! As I passed the BMW in its corner spot on
my circuit around the block, I noticed it's license plate for the first
time: "BM POWER." Suddenly, I understood -- and laughed out loud! When I
was growing up, "BM" was a word that children used when they were talking
potty talk, and seeing it proudly displayed as a source of power was just
too funny! Naturally, the owner of BMW was most likely intending to
demonstrate pride in his vehicle, but the wonderful and oh-so-timely
message for me finally put my entire frustrating parking experience in
perspective.
You can't let the @#$% win the game, regardless how much power it might
think it has. After all, you are always the one who chooses how you respond
to every situation -- your feelings and your attitudes are your greatest
riches, and there's no way that any kind of "BM POWER" (no matter how
trying the situation may seem) can ever be greater than love!
Within seconds of this divine revelation, a car on the block ahead of me
pulled out so I could park my car. In that instant I knew for sure that it
really is that simple. All you have to do is decide which power you will
honor in your life.
