“Coincidence is the wailing whisper of truth. Because there is no coincidence. The Universe just packaged it that way to grab your attention. Otherwise you never would have noticed it. What’s more, coincidence is NOT “God’s way of remaining anonymous.” We all know who did it. We all know who’s at work. And it isn’t us. Coincidence is God’s nametag. Is it sticking to you?” -Scott Ginsberg a.k.a. Scott the Nametag Guy
Have you ever been blown away by an amazing coincidence? Encountered a person or a circumstance at exactly the right time? Afterward, you retrace the events leading up to it (…if I hadn’t left the house exactly then, and stopped at Starbucks for a coffee, then this never would have happened…) and look back in awe.
Those kinds of coincidences are easy to recognize. But what about the everyday occurrences and encounters with regular people. What about the coincidences that we fail to notice because they take the form of everyday run-ins with nobody in particular?
As we plot, and plan, and try and finagle our lives to get to a certain point, but at the end of the day, we are not in control. And the things we do try and control, and plan and plot and scheme may actually be moving us away from our true destiny. Because our understanding is infinite, and our desires are many, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t always separate what we really want (Core Desires) from what we think we want (Shell Desires).
Fortunately, coincidence is God’s name tag. He uses circumstances and brings people into our lives for the express purpose of moving us in the direction He wants us to go. These circumstances can act as corrective measures for some boneheaded maneuver we are about to try. These people may appear as obstacles, but they are actually guardrails there to keep us on the right path.
Sometimes, they look like nuisances and inconveniences, and show up at the most inopportune times in our lives. But that’s just it. They are actually showing up at just the right time. We are just too deaf and in blind pursuit of our own ambitions to realize it. Other times, they are innocuous “supporting cast members” in the drama of life that we mistakenly think we are the stars in.
So, here are a few tips to make sure we don’t miss out on those easy to miss divine appointments placed in our lives for our benefit:
1. Listen.
Not only to people you are currently directly engaged in conversation with, but also people you aren’t. Eavesdropping in public places is acceptable. Look, if the people in the booth next to you are talking loud enough that you can hear it, go for it. Something they say piques your interest? Fits perfectly with the recent cogitations of your soul? Walk over, introduce yourself and say “Pardon me, but I couldn’t help overhearing…” You never know where that tiny grain of boldness might lead you.
2. Use people’s first names.
I didn’t get this one from Scott The Nametag guy, but he has certainly mastered the art. I have a friend named Jay who has an incredible ability to read the first names of cashier’s and waitresses off of their tags, and use them effortlessly in sentences.
“How’s it going, Sheila?”
It rolls off his tongue like he’s known them for years. I envy that kind of approachability and personality. It catches people off guard and get’s us out of that “Ant Mode” we live most of our lives in. You know, where we just pass each other by like insects, not acknowledging that we are all going through the human experience at the same time together? You never know where breaking the ice with total strangers might lead.
3. Slow down.
I don’t want to go overboard on this, but if we do have divine appointments lined up for us on a daily basis, then maybe we need to pay attention to the clues in our lives to help us get there on time. You say you can’t drive 55? What if those traffic signs are there to help pace us as we move through life from divine appntment to divine appointment.
And those traffic jams, or those unpredictable things that happen as we barrel through life with blinders on. Stop. Take notice. Maybe the world is trying to say something to us.
These three simple things can be powerful tools at our disposal that can help us identify the people and circumstances in our every day lives that hold keys to finding and fulfilling our vocation and calling.
We are all here to serve one another, and help each other feel our way along life’s path as we search for answers. Networking isn’t all about figuring out how you can help me get what I want in life. It about how we can help each other get where we both want to go. When we take the time to stop, look, listen, and make ourselves approachable and available to other people, things start to happen.
