The Twenty-One Irreverent Truths of Life

Irreverent Truth of Life Number 11 Coincidence? I Don’t Think So. What a delightful moment when the phone rings and it’s just the person you were thinking about and wished to visit with? Or maybe a dream that prepares us for what would ordinarily be an unexpected and challenging encounter? So much theory has been promulgated regarding quantum mechanics or string theory. Great minds, both secular and spiritual, have attempted to explain connectivity and the concepts of a matrix or non-linear time web that surrounds all beings. I like stories that celebrate the beauty of coincidence that is indeed, not a coincidence. My favorite illustration of Irreverent Truth # 11 begins with violence, pain, and fear. Sarah and Charlie live in our neighborhood. Charlie is retired and gives a lot of his time helping others at the food bank. Sarah is a gifted healer and has never accepted a dime for her compassion and prayers. Charlie’s day always starts early. Up with the dogs at first light so both Charlie and his companions can get a bit of exercise. Sarah is left so she can wake slowly on her own terms. Enter the bad guy. Malicious and evil intent on two legs describes the intruder. Charlie is with the dogs on a walk and the bad guy knows this. He breaks in and violently attacks Sarah. Beaten and bloodied, Sarah prays for rescue. At that very moment, Charlie bursts into the home and takes on the attacker, many years his junior. Charlie wrestles the bad guy to the floor and attempts to take the pistol away from the intruder. In the process, Charlie is pummeled by the weapon in the head and body. Charlie gallantly continues the fight until the bad guy decides to quit the scene and run away. Later that morning at the hospital, Sarah is released to our care. However, Charlie has complications from a cerebral hemorrhage and must be transferred to a facility in Flagstaff specializing in that type of trauma. Not only is the morning shattered for all concerned, but also two lives of tranquility and giving are forever scarred. And most tragically, our hero lays in a bed far away in an intensive care unit with a most uncertain fate. Such a beautiful and loving couple is Sarah and Charlie. It is such a quiet and neighborly street on which they lived. What an immediate and horrific impact a wanton act of violence had on their lives. We gather Sarah up from the hospital and speed to the special place of care Charlie had been sent. Sarah is weak and can only think of being with Charlie. Charlie is resting comfortably upon our arrival at the special care unit. By late that evening he is talking and the prognosis is very good for a speedy recovery. On the way back to the Village, Sarah melts into herself and finds comfort in talking about fresh, sweet corn covered in butter. She reminisces about wonderful meals she prepared for her children where freshly harvested sweet corn was the centerpiece of so many happy dinners. Sarah’s self comforting continued with her reminiscing about going to the local farmer’s market with Charlie and picking the best corn for their table. There are times we retreat to a safe place in our minds and our hearts when there is just too much hurt to process cognitively or emotionally. Sarah’s safe place were memories of family and fresh sweet corn with butter. It was late when we returned to the Village and the only restaurant open was Roberto’s. We slide in just moments before closing time. Dinner is ordered and we all anticipate the enchiladas that will soon be served. Immediately prior to our main course arriving, Roberto brings three ears of deliciously fresh buttered corn to our table. Roberto’s does not have corn on the menu and has never, ever served corn. No other table in the busy restaurant had been gifted with this special and unsolicited treat. We were singled out for this special treat not because Roberto knew of the ordeal Sarah had been through. Nor did he have any idea how much she loved fresh corn. In all the years we have known Roberto, this was the only occasion when ears of corn were served. Some folks would describe this as a fantastic coincidence. I don’t think so. Our Creator wished to give Sarah a message and he tapped Roberto to serve as His angel. How and why do these special instances occur? It is pretty much a rhetorical question that bubbles forth with anecdotes, both small and large. For Sarah, she will carry with her the certain knowledge that on such a hurtful day, her tears were felt and comforting hands reached to hold her securely in His heart. Song: Angel by Jimi Hendrix Wine: Guarchi Sonoma Pinot Noirr Cheese: Parmigano-Reggiano