Coincidences: God's way of staying anonymous

    If you happen to like the title of today's entry, I can't take credit for it. My husband, Lou, has always wanted to write a book with that as the title. And I must say, it would make a great one because honestly, it is a pretty accurate theme that is often overlooked in life. How many times has something you've just assumed was a coincidence turned out to be something really important or really critical in the grand scheme of your life? Well, unless you're living your life with your eyes open and looking at your life as a journey, you might miss the importance of each coincidence along the way. But I refuse to walk blindly! I have to have more faith than that!

   Since I launched my novel, Hurricane Season, I've been incredibly aware of the idea of God's powerful hand in my life, and very often, things that "weren't supposed to happen" end up happening anyway, and the next thing you know, what looked like a simple coincidence turns into something really major. Take for example a flight I was on back in December.

    Lou and I were on our way to Canada for some meetings and a holiday party. As is often the case, Lou was upgraded to first class while I had to stick out in coach. ;o) Anyway, when we got off the plane, Lou told me he sat next to the most adorable woman on our flight, and for some reason he couldn't explain, he had a feeling she was going to be a part of our lives. On the way home from Canada, I had gotten very ill, so we decided to catch a flight out a day before our scheduled flight. While sitting in the boarding area, fighting off chills and the shakes, the woman Lou met on the flight out was walking up the concourse, headed our way! 

   This may not seem like a big deal to you as you read this, because I haven't really told you much about this woman -- other than to say that Lou had a strong feeling about her being in our lives. But the truth is, this is a HUGE deal to me. You see, I gave this woman a copy of my novel before we parted ways that first day, and in the few days between meeting her, and the flight home, she was inspired by my book. And not only was she inspired by the book, she was inspired to become a part of making my book bigger than it is, and more real to a wider audience. This virtual stranger wanted to be a part of my vision -- after only knowing about it for a few days!

    This weekend, this new friend and I got a chance to talk on the phone and dream a little more about the future we both believe we have together. And the dreams we have are really big, and really passionate, and really real! And when you consider that this woman wasn't even supposed to be on our flight on the way up to Canada, and I wasn't supposed to be on her flight home... Well, it makes you notice the "divine fingerprints" in the story that make it incredibly obvious that this was more than just a coincidence!

   Who knows if all the ideas and dreams we had on the phone this weekend will turn out the way we think they will right now? Who's to say they won't? And who can know for sure that our dreams right now aren't too small because God has even more in store for us? It's all a big adventure with lots of surprises along the way. But what I do know is that when I slow down and look at what God is doing in my life, I notice all sorts of coincidences. And instead of trying to question each incident, or qualify it as anything other than a part of God's bigger picture for my life, I just have to move forward with trust, faith and anticipation.

   I realize that this entry is a bit vague -- I didn't reveal much about my mystery friend or what it is she does or has in mind to do with me, but let's just say I feel the need to wait on revealing all of those details at this time. But know without any wonder our doubt that God is in the details, and whatever he pulls out of my life will be the perfect culmination of each step of my journey as an author. I am excited to keep you posted on things as they develop, but in the meantime, may you have the clarity and patience in your own life to see God working through the coincidences in your day today and all the days ahead of you!