Coincidence, schmoincidence...

Last week at church, our pastor Brian talked about affirming and denying the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross.  By "affirming or denying," he was not referring to whether or not we believed the event happened, but whether or not we affirm the Resurrection in our actions in life after that of the Lord, in order to show him praise for his sacrifices and live in the way he has asked of his followers.  It is a message that has stayed in my mind over the last week.  One of the hardest parts of trying to live your life as an affirmation, though, is that you don't always get proof of the change you're trying to be in the world, but last night I was given such proof.

Sam and I went to a French restaurant in our neighborhood that we had never been to before.  The restaurant itself was quite small - only a little over a dozen tables plus the bar.  We were seated at a two-top table with one side on the booth that lined the wall, and because of the small space, we were quite cozy with the neighboring tables.

There was a small space on the other side of the table next to us, and I asked Sam if he thought that's where the advertised live music for the night was going to be set up.  Before he could answer, our neighbors affirmed, "Yes, it is; we just asked the same thing."  That comment led to a few other small talk comments, which led me to my usual talking at the faces of a strangers incessantly at the speed of light - much like I did to Sam the night we met (see, I picked him up, not the other way around...), and also led me to the conclusion that the couple was in from out of town.   A few minutes later I stopped mid-sentence and said, "I'm sorry - I'm from the Midwest.  I talk a lot."  (This is the time-frame in which Sam is usually sitting silently, trying his best not to roll his eyes over my repeated chatting up with strangers, silent, and looking down at his plate.)

The response?  "Oh, that's OK, I'm actually from the Midwest too," said the husband, who was about my father's age.

"Oh, really??  Where are you from?"

"Kansas City.  Well actually I grew up in Overland Park."

This immediately set off a firestorm of questions and findings of commonalities, including that the husband, Mark*, went to Mizzou!!

Through additional conversation, we learned that Mark and Karen* were in town from Los Angeles.  Mark was in on business, and they staying for a long weekend.  Per my usual self, I asked if they needed any restaurant recommendations, etc.  For the next hour or so, we chatted as the live music set up on the other side of their table, and I gave them a list of non-tourist places to eat and visit.  We continued to enjoy a lovely evening with this couple and were amazed over the chances that we would be seated next to each other in a restaurant in one of the biggest cities in the world.

As the plates were cleared from our tables, Mark excused himself and I sat talking with Karen while Sam listened in on the live music.  She leaned into me and said, "I don't want you to say anything, but I just [got some devastating health news] yesterday, and talking with you two is the first time I haven't thought about it since I found out." (Out of respect to Karen, I am refraining from verbalizing what the actual news was...).  I immediately threw my arms around her without even thinking about it.  It was such an emotional moment - incredibly sad, yet also so touching of a comment to receive from a complete stranger.

Before Mark and Karen left, I gave them my email address and insisted they let us know the next time they were in town.

When they left, Sam gave me his quizzical look, obviously regarding the hug.  When I told him what Karen had said, he sat in silence for quite a few moments.  I finally broke the silence and said, "I don't think this was all just a coincidence.  This was a sign from God."

Sam slowly responded, "I was just going to say the same thing..."

In the next hour of our date night out, we couldn't stop thinking about the blessing we had just witnessed.  I started thinking about Brian's message, and it led me to be filled with a joy I cannot put into words.  Striking up a conversation with a stranger (as I said, is something that usually annoys Sam) ended up making the day of someone who is suffering.  This experience affirmed to me that I should continue to just be me, because playing the character of me without any filters, affected someone in a positive way.  This is the character I want to continue to develop in myself.  THIS is what Brian was talking about!  THIS is the message of God!

This experience was not a coincidence.  It was not a chance of random people meeting at a random time.  THIS. WAS. FATE.

This was the work of the Lord.

*names changed