I Worked Hard and Lost it All — I Became Still and Received Everything.
I realized that the work has already been done.
Just look at me living the dream! I had a house in an amazing area with a two-car fully stocked garage, gardens, a wrap-around deck and a weed-free lawn, a wonderful wife, an amazing son, a dog and cat, two awesome vehicles, and a classic pick-up truck. What could be better? University educated, a hard worker, active in the community, involved in charities — I thought I was doing all the right things. Then something happened and it was gone.
I’ll bet at this point that you are ready to stop reading because you think only a loser could blow it as I did. Well, all I can say is we are all just one split-second decision away from losing everything. Don’t doubt me as I was once just like you and then it happened worse than I could have ever imagined. All of my confidence and faith in the justice system turned out to be just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe in the justice system but in a far different and more realistic way now — there is a huge difference. I was a hard-working and well-respected family man.
Give me a break! Only bad people go to jail.
If you don’t believe that I was all that and a bag of chips then take a look at what the judge said when he sentenced me after I plead because of “pressure” from the justice system.
“An unsettling feature of this case is the lack of any answer to the simple query ‘why’? … No explanation appears … As it seems to me, some thorough psychiatric evaluation should be undertaken upon Mr. Reid’s reception into the facilities of the Correctional Service of Canada.”
In my “psychiatric evaluation” the psychiatrist answered ‘why?’ as follows:
“His offence can be best conceptualized as extreme and situation based. His features of obsessionality and need for control both thwarted in a threatening situation which would contravene both these needs likely gave rise to righteous rage as well as anxious paranoia in an otherwise prosocial individual.”
That’s not the story I heard.
My motive, according to the court record, was financial in that I apparently owed “hundreds of thousands of dollars” but that has since been debunked and recorded when I was granted day parole that I actually owed them nothing ($0.00!). So yes, absolutely, without a doubt, what happened to me can happen to anyone. I have been there.
Why do so many experts only appear after something happens?
The most damaging was the creative stories that emerged to back up this false narrative. Let’s just jump on this guy when he is down and strip him of all dignity — right? Let’s create stories about what “really” occurred, ignore him, and show no interest in hearing anything he has to say. Let him rot, suffer and be ashamed for the rest of his life! Well, that’s what happened to me.
My situation may seem unique but in everyday society, this happens all the time. What? Think about it. A sudden death. A child walks between parked cars and gets hit; a traffic accident; a hurricane; the stock market crashes; a building collapses or a robbery, assault, or murder. Our society will always blame someone or something for any form of misery. Families and relationships are ripped apart daily. The world suddenly becomes full of “experts” to tell us why something happened and what “should” have been done to prevent it. If they are so smart how come they didn’t speak up before anything happened? I guess they really aren’t that smart.
The bottom line is that stuff happens. If we let whatever affects us define us then we have no hope. Many of the greatest accomplishments and inventions are rooted in mistakes and adversity because success is getting back up one more time than we fall.
Now what?
When I was defeated, I mean really defeated, as in I tried to kill myself, that’s when I finally realized I was not in control. I can’t fully explain the amazing revelation I had but I will try — Imagine an atomic bomb of hope going off!
I was not Spiritual in the least but I suddenly realized that if God was not real then there's nothing to hope for and there was no truth. Although I felt great peace I still wanted to be involved in making things happen.
I guess you could say that I wanted to serve God as an advisor.
Then I read the Bible and saw who Jesus really was. Until Jesus appeared the religious “experts” made a mess of everything by making rules and then breaking them. Jesus came and died for everyone and His last words before He died as a man on the cross were, “It is finished” as noted in the Bible in the 19th chapter of John, verse 30.
When I read the Bible from the perspective of what God has done because He loves us so much instead of me somehow earning favor everything changed. The air was cleaner, the colors were brighter, and I felt at peace despite my situation.
Many religious or Spiritual humans (because you can’t be both, but I digress) equate Psalm 46 to explain being still. My big revelation came near the front of the Bible in Exodus chapter 14 when Moses had led the children of Israel to the Red Sea and the Egyptians seemed to have them trapped. We must completely submit, as in trust completely, to God by believing He is what the Bible says He is. When Moses, who believed that God was going to deliver them, said to the fearful people in verse 13, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see what the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.” The Red Sea then parted and the children of Israel walked across on dry ground. Then, after they had crossed, the Sea returned and wiped out the Egyptians. Let’s just say that no one seemed to see that one coming!
When I let go of myself miracles started to happen. I can list them, but the fact remains many that those who know me never thought what happened was possible. I now have so many blessings every day. I now know what unconditional love is and I am no longer fearful in any way. Almost all my relationships have been renewed better than they have ever been. I also have many awesome new relationships.
Let’s just say that there are still “experts” describing all I have experienced and putting their spin on it. The bottom line is that I know that I know that I know that everything is going to be okay. Jesus said it himself in John 19:30, “It is finished!” just before He died as a human. God doesn’t work for us but through us, if we are still and let Him. I call what I have, “Everything”.