The Peter Parker moment

Anyone who knows me knows that I love superheroes. Sure, they’re tacky, cheesy, and predictable. Those are just reasons though, and since when do people like things because they’re logical?

Superhero stories speak to us because there are so many factors woven into them. There’s something for you there, whether you like adventure, power, the nobility of fighting for what’s right, the ultimate celebrity status they enjoy…

Or maybe you like to see people come to terms with something bigger than themselves. His life changes in a moment. Everything you thought was possible is now completely out the window.

They have to live their normal lives while carrying so much potential within them.

If you think long enough, you know what I mean. There is a sudden jump in your consciousness. The things that used to hold you back now seem ridiculously trivial. Things you used to take for granted, you now deeply appreciate.

And no one around you notices.

(First…)

What kind of superhero does this make you?

Superman was born exceptional. He grew up with divine abilities coursing through his bloodstream. His rise as a hero was deciding how to use those powers, for better or worse?

Then there is Batman, who dedicated his life to a single purpose. He focused all of his resources on his mission to rid Gotham of crime.

A hero like Iron Man is a different version. He had the ability to build his suit all along, but he never realized it. It wasn’t until he was backed into a corner and fighting for his life that he had the breakthrough.

And then there’s Spider-Man.

Peter Parker didn’t want superpowers. He wasn’t waiting for them. At no time did he plan, plot, or experiment to obtain them.

He didn’t choose where or when to get his powers. He didn’t choose what his powers would be.

At one point, he was “just” Peter…

The next…

Some people see meditation more like Bruce Wayne. After all, you work for a long time to get results. Or maybe more like Tony Stark, who spends his life preparing for the one epiphany he needed to transform.

I do not disagree with those perspectives. They are certainly true for many people.

My experience is more like a Peter Parker moment.

After disciplined meditation, something suddenly woke up. I did not choose where or when. I did not choose the shape of my new thoughts.

But they were exactly what I needed.

Now, not all of these new perspectives were helpful to me. Unlike superheroes, we have the luxury of ignoring which powers we don’t like.

This frees us up to pay attention to what we do.

I admit that it is not a perfect metaphor. For example, only one radioactive spider bit Peter, whereas you will have many of these defining moments.

And the more you have, the more you can shape them. You can choose your results and design your mind, like Tony Stark.

This makes meditation better than gaining superpowers. Using this analogy, it’s like getting all the superpowers you want…as long as you put in the time.