We've
all had them: significant moments that seem to be more than
coincidences. We dream of an old friend and the next day run into him or
her; we are humming a song with special meaning and five seconds later
that song comes on the radio, which in turn helps us to process some
challenging situation; we meet someone at an event who turns out to be
pivotal in changing the course of our lives; we witness something
extraordinary in nature that seems to be an assurance of God's presence
at the moment we need it most.
Carl
Jung referred to these meaningful coincidences as "synchronicity". He
said that: "synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have
eyes to see" and believed that, as we attune ourselves to this
principle, we become more aware of the special insights it can provide.
Such
connections have also been described as "God moments" or "God winks".
We can't prove it, but we know something mystical has happened. Such
occurrences are often accompanied by a deep calm and a sense that we
have been graced with Divine intervention.
When
Jesus walked the earth, he knew that people sometimes needed "signs" to
help them believe. That's why he changed water into wine and performed
miracles. We still need those blessed assurances and when we pray for
help, or pray for a sign, those assurances can come in unexpected ways
through mysterious coincidences.
Years
ago, I wrote a story for a Guideposts publication called "His
Mysterious Ways". It was a story about a beautiful, but frosty cold
autumn day when Tom and I took the chairlift ride up Bristol Mountain.
We hiked around for a bit at the top of the mountain, but suddenly, on
the ascent, I had a severe asthma attack. I realized with horror that I
had left my inhaler in the car at the bottom of the mountain. As we
waited in a panic for the chairlift ride down, me gasping for breath, I
prayed for help and within seconds, I felt a comforting Presence, which
seemed to breathe warmth right into my airways. Everything opened up
instantly and I was able to breathe freely. I have no explanation for
this, other than Divine intervention and I believe that each one of us
knows when we have been visited and helped in such ways.
Whether
it's a "God moment", like the one I just described, or a meaningful
coincidence, like the ones Carl Jung described when he coined the term
"synchronicity", I believe that we are continually assured of God's
presence in our lives if we "have eyes to see".
May our prayer for today be an openness and a willingness to see the signs and wonders all around us.
