CLASH OF GIANTS

Years and years and years ago, man made a mistake…a mistake so monumental that it has haunted him ever since…a mistake so ingrained in his mind that he now thinks that nature, not he, implanted it there.

Man set up the psychologically deadly war between success and failure. Success was not merely attaining a goal, reaching a destination…pleasurable things to happen…it took on the banner of necessity. Even deeper. It took on the role as the identifier, the standard, the measurement, of the value of one’s life. Biblical David is considered a hero, someone to admire, not because he could distinguish between good and evil, not because he had the courage and integrity to fight the giant destroyer, but because he…won. He was successful.

Every activity, every day, has since become not a life-living joy, an adventure, but a critical battle of giants…success and failure… struggling to win the coveted prize: money, position, power, recognition, love. Success seen as the fuel of self-esteem and pride and happiness, and failure as the curse, the anathema, the abomination. Considering the fact that virtually all success, as presently perceived, depends to some extent on what others do or think, man has become a dependent being, taking him further and further away from his independent natural state.

The indoctrination of new warriors begins early. Elementary schools paint the dreaded “F” on the forehead of those who don’t meet the standards for success set by others. “Failure,” it screams, "you are beneath, below, what WE demand…you are not one of us…you are not worthy of life’s bounties."

With that definition, failure hurts. Deeply. We have come to fear it. And with that fear comes doubt, uncertainty, hesitation. About ourselves, about our future. The mere possibility of failure, which is almost always present, has become for many an inhibitor of action...better not to try than to fall short, to flunk.

The mountain of evidence…the unhappiness of so many who have achieved “success”, the unfulfilled deep-rooted longing of so many for spiritual exaltation, the soundless screams of so many for life’s true meaning and value...that reveals that the clash of giants is misguided, lays buried beneath the mindless refrain that “Winning isn’t Everything…it’s the Only Thing” (meant to imply that unless you win, you have nothing).

The ultimate failure is to not realize that life is the ultimate success. Those who are blessed with that wisdom have an impenetrable shield against the "F" word...and are enduringly happy. They know that when they awaken to each new day, they hold the grand prize in their hands...as you do in yours!