Friday, March 19, 2010

Coincidence?

Sometimes things happen that leave a person filled with wonder, things that most people would call coincidence but still leaving them scratching their heads and wondering because the odds of the event happening were just so small that it seems impossible. today such a thing happened to me. For those of you that are out of the loop I have been searching for a used motor home. I thought I had found one but was very unsettled about it and the whole thing was really starting to stress me out. I had decided to give it a rest for awhile but later last night I found myself back on Kijiji Saskatchewan to see if anything new had been posted. There was a new post of a 21 foot motor home that looked promising so I left an E-mail expressing interest. I didn't get around to checking my mail box until this afternoon so when I did they had mailed me the contact information. I phoned to make an arrangement to go see it even though I had gave myself permission to take a break form all of this. I did not think anything would come of it and really thought it would be a waste of time but decided I really did not have anything to lose so what the hay. When I talked to the lady on the phone I kept getting a feeling that I knew her. When I went a nice elderly gentleman showed me the unit. I really liked it, the layout and the size and the price. He said that a couple of the people that came and looked today were coming back tomorrow. I told him that I would be too. As I turned to leave I got a very strong feeling that I should not do so, that I should put a deposit on it. I listened to that voice. Anybody who knows me well knows that I am not usually impulsive and that this was very uncharacteristic of me. I even thought this myself and as I went into the house asked myself what in the world was I doing. As I entered the house I was greeted by his wife and you guessed it. I know her very well. We worked together for years side by side at the hospital. She had retired about 7 years ago and we had lost touch. Well, we had very big hugs for each other and a few tears. She put the teapot on and we sat down for tea. As we began to catch up on each other I told her that I lost my husband last October to cancer. She asked me what type of cancer so I told her Multiple Myeloma. Her face instantly went still and the tears started to roll down her cheeks. She has Multiple Myeloma. She had been wishing for a whole year that she could know somebody who knows of this cancer and had had experience of it. She understandably is terrified. The odds of me bumping into her in this way are not very good as it is a pretty rare cancer. I have yet to bump into somebody who has it. I told her that I will be there for her. We already have set a date for lunch. I had been praying for a motor home that would suit me. What would you calculate the odds of us finding each other? The city that I live near is a fairly large city. What are the odds? Coincidence? Anyway, I have a motor home and can quit stressing and searching and she has a friend that understands. Thankfully, for her, she has a more gentle form of this cancer and it is very treatable. She may have many good years ahead for her. Her hubby was grinning from ear to ear. All I can say is "Wow" I have the feeling that I was sent there. If I would have walked away we would not have met up again and I probably would not have a motor home yet and one where I feel like I can trust the person I bought it from and I would not be reconnected to this dear lady. Oh, I almost forgot. she gets together once a month with a bunch of the people that have retired from my department. She listed them all and I worked with and know them all. I will be going along with her the next time they meet for lunch or dinner. I should have my new baby home with me by next week and can hardly wait to get my hands on it and jazz it up the way I like all tacky and fun. I do need to go and get a new singing fish. John would have liked that. I want to also put bits and pieces of his fishing things in there some how. It will make it seem to me, that in a strange way, he is with me.

13 comments:

Michaela said...

Wow, what an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing. Im glad you found your motor home, I cant wait to hear all about your adventures in it. And how miraculous that lady has you to be just the friend she needs right now. She is lucky to have you! Amazing things do happen, dont they? xx Michaela

The Invisible Mo said...

I don't tend to believe in coincidence because I know there are things going on in the "background" that we often don't know exist. I believe God knows how to send people to us and how to send us to people and when we listen to that little voice it is often setting things in motion. Here are two quotes I like about the whole coincidence theory.

“A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.”

“Coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and pulleys.”

The second one of these is my favorite. We often don't realize the paths we walk upon are laid out before us for a reason. Even in just thinking about how we became friends it is obvious to me. Out of all the hundreds of people on Nablopomo and Iowa Avenue you and I found each other and became friends. In order for that to happen we had to both:
have computers.
have internet.
decide to join Nablopomo.
decide to join Iowa Avenue's community.
And those are just the four basic things. All kinds of little other things had to also come into play. And then from there either one of us could have decided to NOT be interested in the other as a friend. I truly think that things happen for a reason and those reasons aren't always obvious to us. Sometimes we never know exactly why things happen the way they do. Sometimes we touch lives and never even know that we had a profound effect on someone else.
I'm so glad you listened to that little voice. What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing it.

Margaret said...

What an amazing story. I teared up a time or two while reading it. Chris, I totally believe that God led you there for a purpose and the camper is just the bonus. The tool He used to get you there. I am so, so happy for you.

Toad said...

Holy smokes. That is quite the story. How come you don't have a picture of it? Does Kijiji have one? Send me the link.

Sue said...

Goosebumps!!!

What a great story and what a great GOD. This is so exciting! Can't wait to see your new "Home away from home"
Like Margaret this made me cry! I am soooo happy for you.

Melanie said...

Aww. This made my day. I've been wanting a friend that has gone through what I've gone through with Bella, I can't imagine what you must mean to her.

Yay :) Can't wait to see pictures of the motor home!

Christine said...

They took the ad off Kijiji right away. It was gone by the time I got home so Becky could not see it anyway. I will pick it up later in the week. First I have to go to the bank. Then they are busy Mon. and Tue. I have to pick Kent up Wed. evening so maybe Mike and I can do it Wed. morning as it is Mike's day off. Kent is staying Wed. night and Thur. morning then flying home.

Thanks everybody for the comments. I really don't think this was just a fluke anymore than I thought meeting Sheila was. I sure believed that she was sent to me and have been very thankful for that.

Becky said...

Uncle Kent's coming???

That will make Gramma happy. If she's talking to him again. LOL.

Bientje said...

Coincidence does not exist... and your story is proof of that! So glad for you!
Big hug,

Jientje said...

This was meant to be, there is no such thing as coincidence! I'm so happy for you!

footsack said...

What an amazing story of God's guidance and His love! That story made my day.

Anonymous said...
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Lucy said...

Wow, an amazing story!