I guess one will never find out…

I was on the bus today, meditating, as I always do on the rare occasion that there are few people on the bus and it is more than likely that I will not get disturbed. We stopped off at a bus stop and a few passengers got on, so, as usual, I looked up, but this time, saw someone running to catch the bus. As soon as I saw this figure, I thought, ‘He’s going to talk to me.’ Nothing else, just that. Then afterwards, my other, more rational voice argued, But how do you know that!? Stop being so silly!’ I didn’t think about it again, though I was vaguely aware that he came and sat behind me. So I continued meditating…

What seemed like a few minutes later, this man said softly, ‘Excuse me?’ Then again, more loudly this time, ‘Excuse me?’ to which I replied to him by turning in my seat and giving him a questioning look. He then asked for the directions to a place a few miles away from where we were, so, because it was common knowledge to me, I told him the directions, said I’d let him know when he had to get off, smiled at him, and turned back in my seat. He then commented on the snow, so we continued to talk for the duration of the journey, until I told him he had to get off, reiterated my instructions and sent him on his merry way.

The question I put to you is, was this simply a coincidence, or was it something beyond our knowledge, something which happens in the invisible world that we don’t know about? Of course, it could have been related to ‘The Secret’ – the idea that the Law of Attraction governs all; what comes around, goes around, so to speak. This relates to being able to imagine something through the astuteness of our minds. This is a perfectly logical explanation, yet does it link to my experience being a coincidence or something else? Probably this ’something else’ which everyone seems to harp on about… yet what is the ’something else?’ Is it the work of something on a higher plane, or else our minds, our engine, that motor which keeps us going? My dad once likened us to cars (something I must admit I was rather displeased about, for the taking over of robots and machines from mankind is apparently imminent), saying that, ‘our bodies are our vehicle, yet our mind is our engine’ – the part of us which keeps us going; keeps us alert and alive, thus the most powerful source of energy we have. Which would mean that it is, in fact, our minds which bring about these ‘coincidences.’ But is this true? How will we ever find out? Is this one of the things we learn after life? Or will it always be what this post of neverending questions makes me believe: unanswerable? Is it one of those questions we’ll never know the answer to?

Another thought: if my situation was ’something else,’ is it because I was meditating moments before, thus I perhaps became more spiritually aware, as well as more in tune with the world surrounding me? Does this mean that once the art of meditation has been succeeded, we are so evolved and in tune spiritually, that these ‘coincidences’ become a regular occurrence? Plain and simple: things like this intrigue me.

To rephrase the first line of this post, I guess one day we may know, or it could simply stay one of life’s many mysteries…

Dear God,

The story of the nativity is perhaps the greatest means of relaying the love of God through mankind. We are acutely aware that even to those who choose not to believe in Your  diety, can still be moved by the presence of a nativity scene in a sanctuary. For it is the questioning of the genuinely miraculous birth to a virgin, that makes unbelievers mock. But, we must not doubt that such events transpired and that historical fact and science can validate such an existence to a celestial event in our solar system.

Astronomy is a fact based study of the stars, planets, our solar system and beyond. We must remember that Galileo studied the stars and was able to show definitive proof to others who were amazed at what lies beyond our scope of normal physical vision. Every generation has used the sky, the planets and the stars to equate time and to predict future events. We are even finding out how other cultures used such ingenuity to foretell exact calendar events for over a thousand years.

But, it is one particular night, and one particular astrological event that perhaps makes even the nay sayers take a second look at prophecy. For the star that shown so brightly in the sky, and led three prestigious Magi to travel many, many miles to meet the one who they believed would be the prophetic Messiah, for this is the star that overshadowed our King.

According to Julius Marathus, who was an entrusted friend to Augustus Caesar, he stated that in 63 B.C.E. the Roman Senate ordered that all male children born that year, should be killed. This decision was made, because astrological signs and prophecy’s suggested that this would be the time that the King of the Romans would be born. The senators wives, who were pregnant  were even told to not register the birth of their sons, in case their child would later be discovered to be the chosen one.  We know that the King of the Jews did not come from royalty or from a prestigious Government lineage. No, the King above all Kings was brought to us by the conception of the holy spirit over a young innocent virgin. A loyal man named Joseph, who at first did not fully understand that his betrothed had  not forsaken him to another. You chose this man of honor to be the earthly Father to raise Your Son, and to teach Him of His heavenly duties.  If we understand that angels appeared to both Mary and Joseph, we must understand that You allow for the supernatural to occur, to redeem that which You have shown mercy upon-Your children.

It is fact based historical knowledge that on that date in history, something had occurred that had not happened for hundreds of years before, and would not occur again for thousands of years later. The planets of Venus and Jupiter would align. For this great celestial event would mark an unbelievable astrological occurence that would be seen by all in the western sky. Also, noted was that the moon would be full during this enlightening timeframe. We are to understand that this is not mere coincidence. Your mind does not allow for something as awe-inspiring as this to be a random act of celestial happenings. You are the ruler of the universe. You designed the sky, the stars, the moon, and the planets. You knew that Your son would be born, what day, what hour, what minute. You knew that the great minds of the Magi would be so curious to find the answers to the prophetic scrolls that would draw them to the birth of a child. But not just any child, the Son of God, and the Son of Man. One child whose birth would change humanity forever.

Today’s scientist have found positive proof of such an event in history. It has been researched by some of the greatest minds of todays astrological findings, from some of the most prestigious universities. We now know without question, that these two particular planets did align, and could therefore, be the sign that persuaded three highly intelligent scientist, to travel a remarkable distance to see for themselves, what they believed would draw them to the honor of presenting gifts to the much-anticipated Messiah.

The glory and hope of Israel was born in a stable, and three highly favored scientist believed with such integrity that they must look to the stars and follow it to where this Savior would lie. I know that many believe that they arrived on the night that Mary gave birth to you. But, we understand that You were approximately two years of age, when these men found their way to Your doorstep. For them this magical star was the sign that they had been awaiting for so many years. Their studies were their life. They spent their days studying astrology and the meanings to their relationship to man’s future. The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke cover so much of the same stories, that we must interpret this to mean that their significance is highly important to us. We must study to show ourselves approved unto You, Lord. I desire to learn everything that I can to bring me closer in my relationship with You.

This same star led these visitors to bring gifts that would normally be given to great Kings of wealth and highly favored recognition. The Gold that was given, was always a valuable commodity throughout time. The incense of Frankincense was considered a fragrant gum that was drawn from the bark of a tree. The Myrrh was used as a perfume and a spice and was highly valuable during this time. We later see why such extravagant gifts were offered to a small child.

When Herod gave the order that all male babies be destroyed, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and warned him of the sinister plan of a jealous Ruler. It is believed that these valuable gifts from the Magi, were used to help this modest family flee to Egypt. They may have also helped them to live with their essentials taken care of, until they received word that Herod had died, and the impending threat was over.

This enormously bright star–was the majestic sign that brought knowledge of the unveiling of a great kingdom. This star shone brightly over the cool evening air that soothed Mary as she held her son… the Son of God. This star drew the Magi to the most important birth that was ever documented.  In Matthew 2:7, Herod secretly called and found out from the Magi the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said that he too wanted to worship him. It was with Your acknowledgment in their dreams, that they knew they must not return to Herod with the exact location of the child. Your protection followed him everyday of His life. From Starry night, to conquer death in mornings light.

Praise be to the One who spoke each star into existence. Praise to the One who aligned them so that the Magi could follow it to the home of a small child that would change the world forever.

Gina

According the The Times, Brittany Murphy passed away this morning in LA, aged just 32. Brittany has reportedly died from a full cardiac arrest. I’m sure more details will follow sooner rather than later. A sad year for celebrity deaths this year.

Cx

SO! As many people know already, Jess, Hannah and I are going to the work Christmas Party dressed as the oh-so-lovely ladies from cult teen move, CLUELESS. Jess is going as Amber, Hannah is Cher and I’m going as Tai played originally by Brittany Murphy. We had planned this well over a week ago.

I was watching Clueless clips online this afternoon, then found a site that streamed the entire film. The streaming stopped working at 63 minutes, so while the film was loading, I logged into Twitter. I saw Brittany Murphy was trending – MASSIVE COINCIDENCE anyway no? Then found she was trending as ‘Brittany Murphy RIP’. Absolutely mental. Brittany died this morning in LA after a full cardiac arrest. She was aged 32.

We will indeed still be going to the party as the Clueless girls and I will endeavour to wear black knee high socks in tribute to the young actress, Brittany Murphy.

Thoughts?

Cx

Is it me, or are the things we are familiar with, easier to notice?  I often find that I plan some trip to some remote city in a country I could not point to on a map and by the time I get back… it’s everywhere! On the back of a bus, on the telly, in the news or that Mrs Jenkins from number 3 down the road, went last year! Do we only see and hear what we know best? 

Since the inception of design101 back in August – the number 101 seems to have become a very big part of my conscious. From Dalmatians to rooms, telephone numbers to KISS radio – it seems to be everywhere. 

Then look what happed this morning… 

101 messages

I feel like I’m in the twilight zone!

So here I am in the emergency waiting room at Edmond Regional Hospital. I’m experiencing a strange neck pain that came on suddenly three days ago.  The pain started as a soreness on the left side of my neck and has since spread down my left side of my neck, into my ear and my entire head (primarily my left side) is throbbing. I’m a bit dizzy. This is a strange pain. I’ve never experienced it before. So I’m waiting on a CT scan most likely to check the condition of my carotid artery.

In all this, I feel like writing. While in this waiting room, I’m looking at people in pain, people distracted, tired people. One woman is crying and holding her side. Another is laughing and talking far too loudly. People are standing, walking, pacing …all uncertain.
And the thing I keep thinking about is the new body that God will give me. I see the frailty and feel trapped and enslaved to my body. Some people identify themselves with their body. I never have. I’ve always viewed myself inhabiting this shell. Its the reason why I don’t take care of my health – because “my health” is not really mine. It belongs to this body that I just happen to be in.

Honestly, I’m OK with death. I don’t fear it at all. I know that the moments before it happens may include pain and disorientation, but I also know that it will be temporary. The only thing I fear about death is what my absence will do to my family.

This is the real fear and it is a near constant presense for me. It is always lurking in the dark corners of my mind. I have no doubts in the miraculous faithfulness of God to provide, but there are also the practical realities of that they would face. The ever-present nature of this fear is due to the continual war that I wage between what I know I should do and what I actually do.

That needs some explanation. Since I consider myself to be something other than my body, I don’t take care of my body. I know I should because I realize that my temporal experience here with my family exists within the physical world. As long as I exist within space-time, I can have no other experience of my family than that which is grounded in the physical.

Yet, for some reason this intellectual acknowledgment does not provide sufficient motivation for behavoral change. So here I am at the hospital most likely the result of my not taking care well enough. Truth and consequences.

When sin entered the world, so did disease and sickness, injury and pain. Such is the broken world we live in. Yet, even waiting here, in my own pain, writing about my own shortcomings and failings, I see the restoration that is coming. Eden will return. Once again we will be clothed in light and not know our nakedness. And one day, my loved-ones and I will walk with our Father in the cool of the day.

Come quickly Lord Jesus and take us home.

UPDATE: Turns out the neck pain was caused by muscle spasms.  Muscles may not be able to think for themselves, but they can make you think.

When I found my son, he had been thrown out by his adoptive parents and they had gone to Europe.

I discovered where he lived because, for a very short time, he had a telephone. One day , for some reason, I cut through the telephone company’s building in the city where I live. There was a bank of phone books on the wall. Since I was searching for him, I decided to stop and take a look. Why not?

Among the phone books was a slim, interim telephone book for the city where he lived. His name was in it and his address. His name never appeared in the large regular telephone book, before or after. I checked. Finding that book was extreme good luck. Or the hand of God. Or something.

I knew from my research where his adoptive parents lived. I knew their part of the city well because their house was half a block from my grandmother’s house. The address in the little phone book wasn’t the same one. This other address was, you might say, in a poorer part of town.

I wrote him a letter.

Well that’s not exactly true. I drove to the city with my dog in tow, parked down the street from the house, fake-walked my dog and waited until I saw him come out. Then I followed him to school and took his picture courtesy of my husband’s telephoto lens.* Then I felt it wasn’t fair. I knew who he was but he didn’t know who I was so then….

I wrote him a letter.

He later told me that when he called his adoptive father and left a message that I had contacted him, his adoptive father didn’t call him back for three days.

The first time I talked to him on the phone, the first time I spoke the simple words with a history behind them as large as the universe, “How are you?” he said, I had some trouble but I am alright now. He had fallen in with a band of thieving juveniles and had gotten into trouble with the law. At one point he was living in a group home. It was located in a large co-operative apartment building that had been built in the late sixties as kind of a hippie experiment.

You know who else used to live in that building?

Me.

It was the location of my first apartment after graduation from university. I moved out because the hippie experiment was nice in theory but not too good for practical things like building maintenance. But I digress.

I find this happens a lot with adoptees and birth parents. Their lives seem to interconnect. Pure coincidence? I doubt it.

I believe that there are bonds between a mother and child that cannot be cut.

If you are still looking or waiting to be acknowledged, don’t give up.

Peace

UM

* Somewhat disconcerting I know but desperate times call for desperate measures. I’d fake-walk that dog again in a minute if I had to.

“Could you wear a killer’s cardigan?” It was no coincidence I would make some kind of connection with that chapter of the book, but I can’t say it is fate or chance. I can say, I am aware of certain things in life that “connect” in ways that allow me to draw an art imitates life kind of line and, after a certain number of these one begins to figure odds. I gave up on meaningful coincidences as some unusual event in my life. At this point, I presume the cardigan I purchased for $.80 (including tax!) at Salvation Army yesterday did not belong to a killer, but instead to someone who took good care of their clothing and then donated it. Or maybe a family member donated it after a loved one passed on.

The sweater is an older classic cardigan, once sold by the Gillman Knitwear, Co., under the Brian MacNeil Sportswear label. I found one similar to the one I purchased, with a starting bid of $17 or so, on eBay. Not that I am in the market for this particular cardigan manufacturer, or even the style. It just so happened to be a quick in and out purchase. I rarely do that-go in and make a quick purchase without looking over other things-but when I do, I usually make some kind of connection from it.

So I will make the cardigan-book-synchronicity connection.

I run my usual comics collages from day to day, but had not yet done any for the week, and was thinking of combining a couple of them and leaving it at that. I was “aware” yesterday, when I plucked the comic balloons from various comic strips, that I had chosen two that said, “What next?” I don’t often use two of the same word text bubbles, so it was kind of a heads up to me, in my own unusual way of noticing things. I made a mental note. I did the comics copy/paste thing in the early morning (though I have not posted them at this point), then went to the library(checking out my books at 11:43 am) the Salvation Army (buying only the cardigan) and the local downtown grocery store. I completed my errands and got back home a little after one, when a friend from the library pulled up and assisted me with some of the groceries.

The rest of the afternoon I went about my usual day, and last night began to read “Supersense”. I have not been to the library in a while, but it did not take more than a couple of minutes to select the three books I chose: Our Lady of Guadalupe-Mother of the Civilization of Love, Origins of the Specious-Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language, and Supersense-Why We Believe in the Unbelievable. The author of the book I chose to start with asserts that we are “born with” a “super sense” and that we go through life seeking deeper, hidden causes or meanings. Basically, using the author’s own words on page 246, even though I only got to the second chapter, “Throughout this book I have been arguing that beliefs in the supernatural are a consequence of reasoning processes about natural properties and events in our world. This includes a mind design for detecting patterns and inferring structures where there may be none”.

Fine. My mind’s design notices there is a strange pattern in my life, and a certain expectation to connect things, whether there is something there or not. I let others decide how causal or a causal this might be. For example, since this post is about a library book and the connection I made, I will use similar examples, because I especially like when I pick up a new book and let it talk to me through some connection or synchronicity.

In my posts I usually try to show how I make the connections, like in the post, complexities of coincidence , where I connected something I read in a library book the night before (page 33 of The Quark and the Jaguar) with a comic strip seen that same day. I thought it was a hilarious connection.Sometimes I anagram a connection, like in the post, predictably. I used text from various comic strip bubbles in my collage, then anagrammed a quote in the book, Predictably Irrational and then went on the make the connections to another book brought home that week, Physics of the Impossible.

A few of those for your perusal…see if you can keep up.

The secret anagram language was fun, using Pearls Before Swine comics to prove a point. In the posts, string-talk, and sirappy-sweet, I make more connections to the same book, Physics of the Impossible. Maybe it was because of that title??? The post, looking glass, follows up. That same week I used comics to make the connection to other books I had at the time as well…still levitating.

Maybe the universe was trying to get something across…or maybe I am attributing too much to the connections some might call supernatural. I call it fun, often funny, even though it can get complex.

It will be interesting to see where this week’s selection of books takes me. It seems fitting that I should choose a book that makes me ponder the origin of a previously owned cardigan on the very day I choose to purchase a previously owned one. If I knew the cardigan (or some other item) I was purchasing had belonged to someone whose lifestyle or deeds repulsed me, I probably would prefer not to purchase it.

Conversely, I am not swayed to purchase items of interest merely because of someone’s fame or fortune, either…no value is added. I don’t think happenstance brought me to the Salvation Army to buy an article associated with “evil” per se, and even if some outside force operated on me to make such a connection, I would find a way to turn it around and use it for good. Some might say this is borderline “magical thinking” in the clinical sense, rather than playful supposition. Let’s not label this too much. In some sense I think I was “led” to make just the right purchase through some interesting timing ir coincidence…of which I have many. Just my supersense I suppose. 

So, skipping over the collages of a few days, I will give you the one from comics of the 15th, and post those, and today’s comics in other posts. I think you will like the anagram made from the red outlined texts, which refers to the library printout:

“They’d apparently give that exact time to show that woman’s find, that book titled “Supersense”.Witness “Supermind” in text, too!” 

You know, I just wanted a clean cardigan, and I don’t mind buying a pre-worn article from the Salvation Army. I also think I know a good connection when I see one. 

They happen all the time. What makes them “meaningful” is that I notice, nothing more. It’s all part of the game I play with and in this particular universe.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…”
Psalm 37:23 (KJV)

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand,
and when ye turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)

Some people call it coincidence, while others say its fate, destiny, or a divine connection. One of my friends has coined the phrase, “God-cidence.” I am always amazed when God gently whispers and tells me which way to turn next to find a delightful surprise or an old friend I had not seen in a long while. Sometimes His direction is as subtle as a thought like “take the next exit.” It makes me wonder how many times I didn’t listen to that “little voice inside my head or heart,” missed a clue to do just what was needed next and missed a blessing. Most often these signals from God happen on a day like any other day. It’s just that when I’m tuned in, that typical day often reveals an amazing turn of events.

This particular Thursday started off like most of my workdays. I was running late, taking longer than needed to sort through my clothes closet and couldn’t find that certain sweater. I asked myself, “Where was it? Didn’t I just see it yesterday morning? Why hadn’t I taken the time to re-organize this mess? Why couldn’t I find a few minutes to put some things back where they belonged and speed up my morning routine?”

As I was going through my litany of excuses, I noticed sitting on the shelf the black leather camera bag containing my auto-focus, 35mm Minolta camera. “What a waste of good camera equipment. I don’t use it any longer,” I thought. It had been probably a year since I’d used that camera. I’d been like most people and kept up with the technology craze by recently purchasing a digital camera.

Later in the day while driving home from work, I was trying to decide whether or not to participate in my several times a week ritual – stopping at the grocery store. Today a stop was needed; I had to pick up cat treats or not go home, however, it was just too much trouble. My stress-fractured foot was still sore and hobbling through that big store with a cane, then getting back to the car with packages in cold weather was just more than I wanted to endure. So I reasoned my “needed” items weren’t critical and could wait until tomorrow. I would just have to make a deal with my four hungry cats to get into the house.

What’s that old saying, “don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today?” Seems God operates on that plan too. As I continued driving, I kept telling myself that I should just stop and get my shopping done. Just do it! Then I realized everything I needed from the grocery store could be purchased at the drug store about a block from my house. I could park at the door and maneuver faster through the much smaller store. I could also leave my cane in the car and just hobble. The decision was made.

I stopped at the drug store, found the items I needed and quickly made my way to the cash register. As I was paying for them, I spotted my former neighbor about to exit the store. Carolyn had been a dear friend since the day I moved to town over 4 years ago. Quite a fascinating, retired lady, she was the county historian and a part-time writer for the local newspaper. I called out a greeting to Carolyn and she made her way over to me.

As Carolyn walked over I noticed she wasn’t her normal cheerful self. So I asked, “How are you doing?” Her response, “Not too well. I had a crown fall out on Tuesday, then today I dropped my $600 camera and it exploded at the seams – totaled it!” What could I say to that? Yet having no idea why, I said, “Sounds like God’s going to do something.” We chuckled, more out of disbelief than faith, chatted for a few more minutes and then we headed out to our cars to leave.

I was just about to pull out of the parking lot when the thought flashed through my mind of my unused camera sitting on my closet shelf. Would I ever use it again? Was I supposed to offer it to her? Should I sell it to her – for how much, maybe $200? These questions continued to develop as I shot up a quick prayer for direction. I jumped out of my car, hobbled quickly back to Carolyn’s car, mentioned that I had an available camera she could use and that I’d call her when I got home to discuss it.

My one hesitation in making an offer so quickly was that my dad had given me this camera and I didn’t want to just give it away without first talking with him. Driving the mile home, I once again asked God for clear direction in this matter. I called my dad, told him the story of Carolyn’s plight and asked if he would be comfortable if I loaned, gave or sold this camera to her. “Certainly” was his response. It “was a waste of good camera equipment just sitting on the shelf. You just bought that digital camera and will probably never use the Minolta again. What if you offered to let her try it out and if it met her needs, and then offer to sale it for $200.” I sat with the phone in my hand amazed. My dad had just said almost word for word what I had been thinking a few minutes earlier. A God-cidence, indeed! I had my direction.

I quickly telephoned Carolyn with the offer. She said she would need a new camera fairly soon as her next newspaper assignment was coming up in just two days. Due to her failing eyesight, she had just one question, “Is it auto-focus?” She was delighted when I said it was. As an afterthought I mentioned that I had an extra camera bag and asked if she needed one. “No, I should have one somewhere” she responded. We ended the conversation with her stating she’d like to “chew on the idea” and would call me back the next day.

The next morning she called and expressed her interest in the camera. I offered to sell it to her for $200. She quickly replied, “If you’ll throw in the camera bag, you’ve got a deal.” 

We met for dinner later that evening to make the trade. We discussed the events of the past 24-hours as we compared our individual stories leading up to that moment in the drug store. We both knew God had planned our steps, causing us to both be at the right place at the right time. We were delighted to think each picture she took for a story with her “new” camera would be a reminder of how God cares about our every step – even the photographs we take.

© 2009 – Karen R. Power. All rights reserved.

The show, Hannah Montana on Disney Channel, is hypocritical. Just saying.

I really don’t know why I bother blogging about things that require research…

In the Hannah Montana episode, “Yet Another Side of Me,” Hannah meets her idol, Isis. She then becomes worried her fans will lose interest in her music, and is convinced she will have to keep changing her image to keep them loyal to her.

Well, here’s Season 1 Hannah and Season 3 Hannah:

I’m pretty sure the episode gave kids the impression that Hannah will not change for her fans. *cough* selfish reasons *cough*

So what’s this?

New Hannah has a different wardrobe of poofy skirts, animal-print tights, single gloves, *cough* Micheal Jackson *cough* and high waistlines. Old Hannah wore long shirts and simple colors. Her hair has also changed. It used to be long, blonde, and straight. Now it’s shorter, darker, and wavy. And a heck of a lot more.

So what kind of message is this sending to viewers? Hypocrisy is okay? It’s important to change for the benefit of others?

I don’t know. Really, I COULD care less, but…

Here is a new guest post from a contributor from the UK who publishes her blog under the name WanderingScribe. Her post tells of some interesting connections she’s made. For those who missed our earlier re-post of her blog, she’s described her situation this way:

For the past five months I have been living alone in a car at the edge of the woods — jobless and homeless and totally unable to find a way out. I can’t sing, I can’t dance, I can’t scream loudly enough, alI I can do is write. So here I am laying down tracks…hopefully the start of an online paper trail out of here.

Her blog was ‘discovered’ and, as she writes,”I eventually got a publishing deal and made it out of my car to write a book about it… Miracles do happen.” Her book is titled Abandoned and can be purchased at Doubleday and Amazon.

Written by WanderingScribe

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

It seems only yesterday that I wrote in here that I had given up chocolate for Lent…Well, I’ve done it again…Chocolate AND coffee this year, so my nerves are on fire — constant red alert. Only another 35 days to go though (apparently Sundays don’t count as Lenten days!).

Anyway, I really can’t believe that it has rolled around again, and that Lent is here. Time has just slipped away.

I should be keeping an eye on time…making sure it doesn’t just pass me by. It is not just me saying that, apparently it was a direct message from angels for me. So I was told anyway…

When I got back in touch with my dad (Brendan) again, the time just before I ended up living in my car, he heard about a woman in Ireland who was a mystic and received messages from angels. He got in touch with her. I don’t know to this day what he said to her, but he had her telephone number and urged me to call her, saying she would be expecting my call. I didn’t know what to say, and wasn’t going to, but one day, feeling very foolish, I found myself dialing her number.

A softly spoken Irish lady answered, but it clearly wasn’t a good time for her — I think she was in a hurry to pick one of her children up from somewhere (yes, she also has children and lives in a modern house in a modern part of Ireland). She said she had received a message for me though — that the angels had given her a message saying that I had many talents (haven’t we all!) that I was in danger of wasting, and that time was running out. She said she was very busy and couldn’t talk but that I should give her my address and that she would write to me with the message.

I thought she was fobbing me off, but I gave her my address in Newcastle anyway and a few weeks later a letter did arrive. It took up only one side of paper and repeated the message from the angels: saying that they stressed that I needed to be particularly careful about time, and not to let it slip past. Which at the time I thought was a very strange message, even though that is what I have always tended to do in my life. I was a bit disappointed in a way, of all the things that angels could tell you…especially me in the lost and fragile state I was in at the time. She also gave me the name of my two guardian angels. Names which weren’t in English, but which, even though I was skeptical of the whole thing, I still found a bit disturbing seeing written down in the letter.She said all I needed to do was call the name and ask them to come down and they would. I remember rolling the sounds around my tongue and for a few days finding myself silently saying them. But then I got frightened of what I was doing and tried to forget them — which, unfortunately, I have now succeeded in doing. (Though I think I still have the letter somewhere.)

I’d never met this woman myself. All I knew was her name, and her voice…

Then yesterday, in a local bookshop, I squeezed past a couple pushing a toddler in a buggy, and as I did so knocked up against one of the bookcases. A display book, standing face-out on the edge of one of the shelves, threatened to topple. It was a new hardback book with a very nice light cover. As I reached up to straighten it, I instinctively read the title and then my eyes shot up to the author – because suddenly I knew who it was. It was her. The woman with the message for me from the angels. She has a book out, an autobiography called Angels In My Hair. Her name is Lorna Bryne, and she is apparently Kosher — for those who believe.

Brendan still has her telephone number and gave it to me again yesterday when I told him. Though I wouldn’t dare call her again. But how odd…Time did run out for me in the end and I ended up in my car. So in a way the message was right. And then I wrote an autobiography. An autobiography which was there right at the right time in publishing in a way. And now the person who gave me that message has written her autobiography too – with many more books to come it seems. It gave me shivers standing there in the bookshop holding it in my hands. Kind of…sort of…in a way…mysterious…

You can get yourself in a state of mind where things start to feel like proof. As if someone is laying a trail… constantly saying: Now do you believe? Now do you …? Now…? How about this time..?

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to SHELTER in your favorite reader?

Sign up for our email list.

Betsy Lerner had an interesting post on her blog recently. In it, she mentions how as a kid she wrote in the crawl space under the stairs (something I did too — although I had the luxury of a split-level house so had more room to stretch out, I expect).

It got me thinking about my early attempts at writing. I was always drawn to a good story and from a very early age I wanted to figure out the magic — so that I could affect people with a story of my own. I started out by trying to re-write those stories that really stuck with me. I would sit in my room (no crawlspace until I was a bit older) and write out the plot from memory. I’d add illustrations, my interpretation of what the characters and settings looked like, I would try to add different scenes to see if they worked as well, add new characters, write the sequel.

My early sources also included movies like When A Stranger Calls. I wasn’t old enough to see the movie when it came out but the urban-legend plot was the talk of the schoolyard. I figured I knew it well enough to write my own sequel. I had the psychopath send the babysitter flowers in the hospital and then chase her down there. Not very original, I know, but, hey, I was nine.

Do you ever have the feeling that life is more than just coincidence? That there may have been a divine hand present in the whole matter? If you do not believe in a higher power, you will probably stop reading this note right now. That’s fine. You may be surprised to find that this note does not necessarily contain a religious theme throughout.

At first, you may chalk it up to irony or being in the “right place at the right time.” This has happened to me so many times over that I no longer believe in coincidences in the strict sense of the word. It seems that the difficulties and challenges which I have experienced in life have created the person that I am today and it has turned out to be for the better.

I have learned that there are different types of people whom you will encounter in life, coincidental or not. Some pose a negative hindrance and I do not care to associate with them. Others are of a selfish nature and I avoid those types as well. Some are only in your life for a short period of time before moving on with their lives. From time to time, you will meet another who somehow gives you the ability to tackle the next chapter of your life. Each is influential in his or her own right and occasionally impacts your life for the better and sometimes for the worse.

This year, I learned of the passing of an old friend of mine. He had taken his own life. I have yet to bring closure to the situation and hope to eventually visit the cemetery where he is resting in order to pay my last respects.

I do not understand life in itself. I do not know why we are here or why we were created. I just know that life, regardless of your beliefs, is too short to live with regret. Live a little. Take risks. You may just find your own path and influence others in the process. You may also find that coincidences and ironies are present throughout and learn that there was a divine hand guiding your steps. Or not. After all, everyone charts their own paths, do they not?

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while… THAT, and I don’t feel like doing my homework now, so…

I feel so targeted. Nickelodeon and Disney Channel are going at it, trying to catch my attention. Maybe you noticed. Maybe you never realized it and you are their pawn.

The most major thing I can point out is the internet. The two tv channels are targeting internet-users (YouTubers). Take Lucas Cruikshank, for example. He first appeared on iCarly in the episode, “iMeet Fred.” Later, he guest starred on Hannah Montana in the episode, “Come Fail Away.” Naturally, the television stations are trying to get Fred fans to become their fans. Nickelodeon also featured Care Bears on Fire in “True Concert,” an episode of “True Jackson, VP.” (Yes, Justin Beiber appeared in that same episode)

There are also some minor details I noticed. Disney has a show called “The Suite Life on Deck,” about a group of kids attending high school on a boat traveling around the world. Nickelodeon borrowed this idea for school on a boat on iCarly in the episode, “iReunite With Missy.”

Trying to be subtle doesn’t work. Seriously. I see through this act every time I turn on the tv. Why I’m even watching these shows, I have no idea. There’s a lot more examples I could use, but these are the most obvious. And I’m bored of looking these things up.

Internet users, beware: You’re being used by television.

This is not a work related post. The story however begins at work.  I called a local golf center to narrow down an issue they were having and schedule a time for a technician to go and resolve the problem, we made all the necessary arrangements and I went on with my day.

That evening my wife and I were meeting Sparrow, the director of the wild life rehab center and some of her volunteers for dinner.   There was one couple we had never met but we seemed to have a lot in common.  Imagine our surprise when we realized that he was the person I had spoken to earlier that day to arrange for a technician to come out and fix the problem he was having at work.  Such a small world and it was getting smaller.  Later my wife was talking about her work in the agricultural dept.  It turns out the very same day he had spoken to my wife about some soil samples he wanted analyzed!  What are the odds that we were eating dinner with somebody we had never met before yet we had both spoken to during the day on totally unrelated issues?    It is a small world, and it is about to get smaller.  It turns out that they were interested in purchasing a house just two doors away from ours, unfortunately somebody else beat them to it and the house sold before they even put in a bid.  But we had fun imagining how we could have set up a release site for the animals between the two properties.  But wait, the world was yet to get smaller.  Two years later the house came up for sale again.  We contacted our friends and they were still interested in the propery and are now our new neighbors.  Yes the same one featured in hospital and yes the very same who became attached to the raccoons in Magical moments.  Guess what? the world continues to get even smaller.  At the neighbours house-warming party we met the realtor, the realtor’s husband is an aerospace engineer who teaches at the university, (we didn’t know such a program even existed at the university).  He was from Spain so we got to exchange war stories about immigration and had a lot of fun.  Months later my wife and I went through a lot of time and effort trying to purchase two laptop computers from a company who’s online department  messed up the order in more ways than I thought was possible.  Our saviour was a sales rep at the local branch of the store who along with his manager managed to fix everything.  The day we were able to pick up the computers we were chatting with the sales rep and found out he was studying aerospace at the university and surprise, surprise one of his professors was our next door neighbours real estate agents husband.  Yes, the wold keeps getting smaller.  This week I found out that the new hire at my work previously worked with my neighbor. Why am I not surprised?

So, what does ‘Magic Babe’ have in common with the American sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”?

While I do feel Kaley Cuoco’s character reminds me a lot of Ning at times, that is not it.

I was watching the second season of The Big Bang Theory on DVD while working on my blog when I noticed something that one of the show’s character was wearing that looked very familiar.

Do you see it? It is not the loud shirt or eye patch…

.

.

.

.

.

but his belt buckle.

It is exactly the same one that ‘Magic Babe’ wears as part of her costume.

I found it funny as I was just talking to Ning today about her belt buckle…

I spoke to some of my work colleagues about Google Picasa, the topic of my previous two posts. One of things I predicted, somewhat in just, was a good probability of finding someone in one my photos who I didn’t know at the time but do now. This has indeed happened.

It would have been very surprising if this was in the background of a photo taken while on a trip to another country, but so far that’s not the case. What I did find was a picture I took at the Comdex Canada trade show in downtown Toronto in 1992. Michael was talking to someone at the Hewlett Packard booth (at the time a competitor, now the owner of the company I worked for at the time) when I took the shot.

In the review of the 1700 or so unknown faces that Picasa picked up, I saw it. Michael hired me in 1999 to the company I still work for, although he left in 2006. Strange the 7 years after I took the photo, we would finally meet.

My photos are all indexed now, and I’m getting through all the faces that I recognise. There are lots that I don’t, of course, and plenty where I don’t remember the names although knew them at one time. Every once in a while one comes back to me after staring at the picture for long enough. I also upgraded to version 3.6, although it hasn’t made much difference so far.

sometimes you just by coincidence come across something that warms your heart.

Like this morning, I was searching for the link to my rss feed on Flickr and I saw a photo that my friend Cirkusprinsessen had posted with the subtitle A very good friend. That made me happy and I’m so looking forward seeing her this afternoon to go clothes shopping and then a visit to Tivoli

Thank you for being my friend Cirkusprinsesse

For having been out of commission for so long, this week has been sufficiently weird.

Mostly it seems that I have learned an important life lesson in how to go with the flow while having faith in the future. What!? Crazy, I know. Several things didn’t “happen” and yet I felt at peace with all outcomes. On top of this, I maintained a sense of optimism that those things would “happen” when the time was right. Yeah. I know, right? Fucking crazy. I must be like an adult now or something.

The other thing was that connections were found between my past and present via Facebook. Which confirms that my life would be meaningless without this social networking tool. I am a sucker for “coincidences” and ties of these sorts. Everything happens for a reason? Six degrees of separation? Small world? YEAH. Fuck yeah. It all comes full circle. I guess.

Overall this week has felt like the conclusion to insanity and the introduction to a new-found, self-assured Jdog. Goodbye baggage from this year and last! I have purchased new luggage and now know how to pack more efficiently. I won’t be carrying around unnecessary hair dryers and bitches anymore. George Clooney has effectively thrown the pillows and trauma into the trash can. From now on I’m traveling on this journey with only essential business suits and confidence. The list of approved co-pilots is impressive and reliable. I’m excited to reach my future destinations, but I’m also looking forward to the ride because I hear I’ve been upgraded to business class. I really liked the salted nuts.

Have you ever been at a party, where you didn’t know many people, and you sat down right beside the perfect person to make a new connection with?

Or maybe you have whispered a prayer with a specific need, only to find that two days later, someone crosses your path, with the exact thing you had asked for only days before?

You’re down to your last 500 dollars, and you get the call confirming that you start your new job on Monday?

These little “coincidences” are the rewards of believing in a limitless life. When we ask and believe that there are no limits to what the universe can provide, it is astounding what can happen.

These little coincidences are what I like to call “kisses from the universe”. The little blessings that come easily when we truly let go of the results.

All of my needs, no matter how small are met, unconditionally by the universe. One night, I had a craving for dark chocolate. Of course, Murphy’s Law, I had no chocolate in the house. So, I let it go and forgot about it. About a week later, a friend came over – and she had hand-made a gift box for me with “With God all things are possible” written on the top. Inside the box I found 2 dark chocolate chocolate bars. I sat there – wide mouthed, my eyes nearly popped out of my head.

What this showed me was, when I trust in the limitless abundance in life, it comes to me. When I have no limits or fears around my needs being met, they are met with ease. Limitless thinking becomes limitless living.

How can trusting, and letting go of limits help you receive kisses from the Universe?