Glory Days
It was forty-four years ago on this day that an awesome memory became indelibly etched in my mind and soul…
It was late in the evening on March 12, 1977, and I was sitting in the last seat on the right side of Covington High School Bus 9.
Across the aisle from me sat my good friend and basketball teammate, Joe Hitchcock.
Joe and I had spent countless numbers of hours on an old asphalt basketball court in the heart of Covington working hard in hopes of someday winning a championship for our little town.
Anyway, Bus 9 was barreling down Troy Pike about a mile from Covington.
Charlie, the bus driver, barreled everywhere, especially when 70’s rock and roll music was blasting throughout the bus–Charlie was the first Covington bus driver to equip his rig with an eight-track tape player.
We were on our way home from the University of Dayton Arena after knocking off a talented Clinton Massie team 56-40. This win followed a big upset from the previous night as we had handed a highly regarded Ripley Blue Jay team their first loss of the season.
The win over Clinton Massie gave Covington its first-ever District championship in basketball.
As we came around the final bend of Troy Pike, we were greeted with a spectacle of lights, sirens, and honking horns.
Much to our team’s pleasant surprise, we had entered into the first-ever sports championship caravan escorting us through our small village.
A police cruiser grabbed the lead position in the caravan while the village firetrucks lined up behind the bus, and following the firetrucks were at least fifty cars.
Sirens, flashing lights, and honking horns signified that Bus 9 was transporting something special.
As we were escorted through town, people stood outside their homes, clapping and cheering for us.
I remember the details of this moment so vividly because I put my window down and stuck my head out to take it all in and to wave at and thank the people for showing their support.
At some point, I remember my buddy Joe looking over at me and shouting, “Meyer, this is unbelievable.”
To top things off, hundreds of Covingtonians packed into our gymnasium and celebrated with a post-game “championship” pep rally for us.
Yes, it was truly an unbelievable experience.
Fact
I have lots of great memories from my high school and college basketball playing days, but the ones that stand out the most are the team memories.
The same holds for my business career. The other day I shared with Lori that what I missed the most about the business was the team. I told her I would give anything to be sitting in a room with them one more time.
God wired us for community.
The COVID-19 pandemic has tried its best to short circuit that “wire” in all of us.
Pandemic Living
After the pandemic’s initial shock, I began to think of ways to stay busy and prevent myself from wandering into the dark depths of my mind.
I learned in early recovery that my mind was like a bad neighborhood–I should not go there alone.
Some things I’ve done the past year to keep the community in my head healthy:
- More frequent talks with Jesus along with increased scripture reading
- Rigorous exercise
- LOTS of walks and rides with Lori, Jordan, and the dogs
- Healthy eating habits
- Lots of reading…at least two books a month
- More texts and phone calls with friends and family
- Sending several hand-written cards of appreciation to people who’ve positively impacted my life.
What is amazing to me is that I can humbly say, with much gratitude, that I am a better person today than I was a year ago.
Unfortunately, I am in a minority.
Reality
The past twelve months have been brutal to the mental states of millions of people.
Suicide is up.
Drug overdoses are up.
Depression and anxiety cases are up.
When left unattended for too long, loneliness perpetuates depression and anxiety, which often creates a vicious cycle that deepens the desire to be alone and isolated, leading to a fear of living and sometimes a desire to die.
The above paragraph is the “world according to Jay” from my recollection of the darkest days of my addiction journey.
Solution
Being alone doesn’t mean you have to become lonely.
How have you stayed connected throughout this unprecedented time in our history?
Have you connected with Him more?
Have you connected via phone, text, email, and notes with others more?
Have you kept your mind healthy with good reading and listening habits?
Have you kept your mind healthy by eliminating people, places, things, and thoughts that generate negative energy?
Have you kept your mind healthy by connecting with people, places, things, and thoughts that generate positive energy?
If you’ve tried many of the above tools and are still suffering from loneliness and depression, I suggest seeking professional help…I write from experience.
Sometimes Reality Sucks
In the picture of our championship team, I am #32, the guy on my left, number #4, is Joe, the tall guy on my right is Mike, #44. Mike was a rising sophomore star and an integral member of the 1976-77 championship team.
Each of them, at different points in their lives, lost their desire to live and took that loss of desire into their own hands.
They are gone but not forgotten.
I think of them often.
In fact, I think of Joe daily as I have a couple of pictures of him near my desk where I do my morning devotions. We always had a kindred spirit between us and always will.
Joe and Mike were key cogs in one of my all-time favorite championship communities.
Somehow I had allowed them to disconnect from that community without knowing.
They were friends I wish I could have been connected to when darkness was overtaking their souls.
It wasn’t meant to be, I guess…
Reflection
Depression, anxiety, and isolation are all potentially deadly if left unattended.
Stay connected.
Always try your best to keep your mind in a healthy community.
Reach out to those who may seem disconnected.
He wired us for community.
The enemy works tirelessly to short-circuit that Wire.
We have to work just as hard or harder to keep that Wire intact.
Good News
Spring is just around the corner.
Basketball’s March Madness is about to go into full swing.
The light at the end of the tunnel is no longer a freight train.
🙂
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
