Coincidence

"Miracles are unexpected joys, surprising coincidences, unexplainable experiences, astonishing beauties... absolutely anything that happens in the course of my day…" ~Judith M. Knowlton, American author and Doctor of Psychology


My left hip began to vibrate. A moment later my Blackberry erupted with a familiar bling-bling-bling. Glancing at the screen, I didn’t recognize the sender, but, out of curiosity, I opened the message anyway. Interesting… The email had come from Elder Diane Takata Powell of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. At that moment I was in a hospitality suite at a Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, California. However, in only a few weeks, I would be in Charlotte, attending a YMCA Development Conference. Diane requested a phone conference. I countered with an offer, to her surprise, to meet with her and her committee face to face. What a coincidence.

The hospitality suite emptied quickly as people headed for their next workshop. Leisa Anslinger, a friend and colleague was conducting a workshop that afternoon. I would be in attendance. She greeted me at the door when I arrived. Still fresh in my mind, I mentioned the workshop in Charlotte. “You’ve got to visit with Don Garbison from St Matthew’s,” Leisa responded and she recited his email address from memory.

Less than three weeks later I sat down to coffee with Don in Charlotte. We had so much in common you would have thought we met through StewardshipMatch.com. The time flew and as the conversation was ending Don offhandedly mentioned Jim Kelly’s office was four or five blocks away. Jim is the current President of the Board of Directors of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, the Director of Development for the Diocese of Charlotte and one of the foremost stewardship authorities in the US. Don had Jim's phone numbers in his cell phone and shortly thereafter…so did I. I couldn’t believe my luck.

Before the afternoon was out I had contacted Jim. He was away for the week, but the Associate Director, Barbara Gaddy, was in, and a mutually convenient lunch-time appointment was set for the next day. We could meet without any disruption in either of our schedules. That evening I fulfilled my promise to Elder Diane and her committee. The next day I met with Barbara at lunch time as planned. What an incredible run of good fortune I was having.

It was the last evening of the conference and I was buoyant from the streak I was on. Teresa and I strolled into the International YMCA Reception honoring 21 foreign countries which had sent delegates to the conference. We rode the elevator to the fourth floor expecting only some cold drinks and warm appetizers. The doors opened. We stood face to face with Michael Bussey, Financial Development Consultant to the YMCA of the USA and the official greeter/host. He immediately introduced us to the guest speaker Forsan Hussein; the CEO of the Jerusalem International YMCA. A man dedicated to peace in the Middle East.

In our brief conversation I casually mentioned I was trying to arrange a trip to the Holy Land for my Deacon class. (We are to be ordained in 2012). Without hesitation Forsan produced a business card. “I would love to be your host in Jerusalem” he said. We chatted for several moments and then he was whisked away to his presentation. Needless to say I was stunned.

The next day I stood in the conference room, where I would be conducting my workshop, greeting attendees as they arrived. To my surprise Forsan appeared at the door. “I am very interested in your workshop,” he began. “We need this, but I can only be here for a little while.” “Do you mind if I stay through part of it?” “Of course, you are welcome to stay as long as you like,” I replied with a spontaneous hug. Halfway through the presentation Forsan quietly got up, waved from the doorway, then disappeared. We had previously agreed I would send him a copy of the presentation. How could I have been so fortunate?

“How could God have let this happen!?” is a familiar mantra. It is easy to blame God for all the bad things which happen in this world, particularly those things which affect us directly. But when it comes to those “happy accidents” which befall us we are equally quick to view them as luck, coincidence, or good fortune. God takes the blame for the flat tire on the way to work, but it was luck which gave us the unexpected parking place near the front door of the mall.

However, when we begin to acknowledge and accept there is no such thing as luck, coincidence, good fortune, or “being in the right place at the right time” new vistas open in our lives. It is as if some of the crud comes off the windshield through which we view life. God had a purpose for me to be in Charlotte. There was work to be done and yet nothing was simply handed to me during my trip. The opportunities were presented, people were placed in my path, but it was up to me to act upon them…to be proactive…to answer God’s call. I was responsible for making the arrangements; sending and responding to emails and phone calls; being attentive during the various meetings and encounters and even doing some note taking along the way. Not to mention there is still follow-up to be done.

There was also a need for me to set myself aside…to leave my ego at home and check my agendas at the door. Something, I humbly admit, I am not very good at. If I had approached these interactions (gifts from God) with a “what’s in it for me” attitude or thinking I had nothing to learn or, if I simply saw them as an opportunity to impress people with how much I knew, the purpose and benefit would have been lost or the impact diminished.

It was important to pay attention, because I didn’t know why I was there or who was to benefit. Therefore, there was only one thing to be done: proceed with faith that God had a plan in operation and, in so doing, I transitioned from one encounter to the next almost effortlessly.

As stewards of this life God has given us, we must come to accept reasons are rarely readily apparent, but opportunities abound if we open our eyes to them. But it requires a sacrifice and that sacrifice is ego…the belief we have a better way. This does not mean we wait around for an inspiration or divine intervention. There will be no burning bush or mysterious visitation. Rather we are called to make the best beginning we can.

The more we do, driven by love and not by ego, the more we will sense a direction. When we go with God’s flow things seem to move along with minimal disruption, but when we think we have a better plan…when we insist on having things our own way, the green lights and blue skies quickly fade and are replaced by blank walls, dead ends and blind alleys. The Lord is making miracles all the time. Your life is one of them. Continue to make it so.

Dear God: Thank you for this miracle you have shown me today.


“Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous.”


© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

“90 Second Stewardship” This reflection is written by James E. Carper, Director of Stewardship for Saint Monica Catholic Community in Santa Monica, California. All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.