Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day Parades, and March Madness

Total sanity must be nice! Can you imagine what it would be like to have a mind without contradictions, a life without pain, fear, or guilt? But what if it were necessary to first see madness?

The month of March is famous for Mardi Gras madness, madness regarding who can march in St. Patrick’s Day parades, and the elite college basketball tournament perfectly named ... March Madness.

Coincidence? Well, at least instances all coinciding with the March time period.

Accidents? Or are we being shown something?

Maybe there is a relationship with Easter, which conveniently never occurs before March 22 or later than April 25. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Easter is really symbolic of the resurrection of our mind out of a death-like shady insanity up into a blissful fully alive state of glowing bright reason?

How does Alcoholics Anonymous say it? You must “hit bottom” before you make a 100% unconditional choice for sobriety?

Maybe Mardi Gras is a way of quickly hitting bottom. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" referring to the practice of insanely pigging out on rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

Or maybe we are all vicariously "hitting bottom" when we watch the insane fight between gays and straights over who can "march" on St. Patrick's Day, or when we watch lunacy take over millions of basketball fans during March Madness.

Maybe there is something to the idea that individuals must recognize madness in the atmosphere (or in their minds) before “hitting bottom” and fully, completely, 100% unconditionally choosing reason and sanity.

“I said to myself, ‘Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.’ Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:16-17)

You might say, "Whoa! Is the writer of Ecclesiastes telling me nothing I see means anything, and I have given everything I see all the meaning it has for me?"

What if a still small voice were whispering (or shouting, but heard as a whisper) to Mardi Gras revelers, St.Patrick’s Day Parade crazies, and people losing sanity over basketball games:

As you look with open eyes upon your world, it must occur to you that you have withdrawn into insanity. For you see what is not there, and hear what is soundless. Your behavioral manifestations of emotions are the opposite of what the emotions are. You communicate with no one, and you are as isolated from reality, as if you were alone in all the universe. In your madness, you overlook reality completely, and you see only your split mind everywhere you look. God calls you and you do not hear, for you are preoccupied with your own voice. And the vision of Christ is not in your sight, for you look upon yourself alone. (ACIM Chap. 13)

Those of course are words of Jesus Christ. And Jesus does more than alert us to the problem. He teaches us of the solution, a bright and shining alternative state of mind:

Madness and reason see the same things, but it is certain that they look upon them differently. Madness is an attack on reason, that drives it out of mind, and takes its place. Reason does not attack, but takes the place of madness quietly, replacing madness if it be the will of the insane to listen to it.

Does Heaven seem to be a burden to you? In madness, yes; and yet what madness sees, must be dispelled by reason. Reason assures you Heaven is what you WANT, and ALL you want. Listen to Him Who speaks with reason, and brings your reason in line with His. Be willing to let reason be the means by which He would direct you how to leave insanity behind. Hide not behind insanity, in order to escape from reason. (ACIM Chap. 21)

Notice the word Jesus uses to refer to a new mind, a bright brilliantly glowing mind of perfect clarity: heaven.

Wouldn't it be a pleasant surprise if all the craziness of this world, all the nonsensical drunken partying, all the foolish fighting between special interest groups, all the ... madness in March (and any other time) served a sublime purpose: to influence us to finally make an irrevocable decision?




Lesson 138
“Heaven is the decision I must make.”

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