I read a fascinating article on “meaningful coincidences.” You think of someone you hadn’t heard from in years, and then he calls you on the phone. You recall a departed loved one, and then her favorite song comes on the radio. Someone wins the lottery against all the odds, and then wins it again. Something great happened to you because you happened to be at the right place at the right time, though you normally would not be.
Someone is conducting a scientific study of such coincidences. There are different theories about them, but they ultimately come down to “it’s a mystery.”
There is a Weird Coincidence Survey (take it at the link), designed to track this sort of thing. And The Coincidence Project to collect coincidence stories. And a book on the subject: Meaningful Coincidences: How and Why Synchronicity and Serendipity Happen.
Some people think they point to an overarching order in life, to a plan by God. Imagine that.
I’d like to blog about this article, but I’m not sure what to say about it. What I’d really like to do is hear from you: Have you experienced anything like this?
I’ll start with one. My son-in-law’s first call out of the seminary, which could have been to anywhere in the country, was to a small church located in the same Oklahoma county where the old Veith family farm was. He didn’t know that, nor did anyone involved in his placement. (So of course that’s where we retired to, going back to my roots, plus we could be near our daughter and grandchildren.) A mere coincidence? I think not.
You might want to read the article by Deborah Netburn, entitled Strange Coincidences: Are They Fluke Events or Acts of God? Then tell your stories.
I’m going to make this a “free” post, opening it up to the general public, in hopes of hearing about lots of weird coincidences.
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