More Than or Only…Co-Incident

Coincidence, luck, providence, chance, timing, serendipity, good fortune, just happened, unexpected and unexplainable occurrences, a concurrence of events with no apparent connection, luck, a conductor who orchestrates…and many more.

 

I would imagine that all of us have had experiences of the above. The question… are they divine, just part of everyday life or perhaps both? Looking at scripture, my personal life and most recently an experience of some young friends has revived this question

Scripture … wow, so many examples! To name a few are Joseph, Esther, Daniel and Saul to Paul.

My own life … again, so many! Yet most recent would be during my trip to Nicaragua in November of 2017. A primary goal of that trip was to coach a baseball clinic to the Miskito children in Kisalaya. Enroute to that location I stayed an evening in Puerto Cabezas at Verbo. Less than an hour after arriving I went to have lunch in their dining room. One other man, Junior, 10 years my junior (pun intended), sat across from me. During the ensuing four hours we would learn that both not only played high level baseball, but have coached youth for many years. Our style, including the discipline of young men and directing them in a walk with Christ are what both desire to achieve most. This was just one of a few such experiences during this brief two week trip. I saw (and still see it) as God ‘conducting' the orchestra of life….yeah, I have a difficult time placing ‘coincidence’ on this experience

 

On to the young friends. Now in their mid twenties, I've known Liz from the time when she was learning to walk. It has surely been a blessing to watch her grow to the women who is now a kindergarten teacher. And her husband Austin, about to complete his master's in leading worship. Awhile back they began pursuing possible opportunities to put this passion into service. Through a couple connections they were drawn to a church in Coral Springs, Florida. Two weeks ago this would be quite insignificant, today, of amazing significance! For it was on Valentine's day, one week prior to Austin's interview, that a young man stole the lives of 17 beautiful people from that very location. So… is this a divine appointment?

Sure… this blog could delve into the ‘If there is a God, why is there so much evil’ debate. That subject has been tackled quite thoroughly and will continue to be. What I will say, I believe that the Creator has designed within each one of us a unique DNA. How will we use our uniqueness and the gifts that make up the threads of our lives in the pursuit of caring for our neighbor?

 

So the timing of this interview, coincidence, really! As queen Esther was placed into her dynamic, “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14), I believe that Austin and Liz likewise have a similar providence ahead

Might the Father bless this interview and henceforth use both of them in the healing process that will become so vital in the days that follow.