Godcidence....

Over and over, I have commented on the fact that, in this town, I never see anyone that I know…

We began the day by attending a baptismal service for some friends. The church that they attend is very large and holds three services to accommodate everyone…we were at the middle service…9:30 a.m. There we sat, waiting for the service to start…when our daughter noticed the names of a couple who we hadn’t seen in more than ten years. This particular couple had a very ‘remarkable’ history where we came from…having split up two families and devastated our church by having an extramarital affair, he being the pastor, and she the secretary. In the end, they divorced their respective spouses, married each other and disappeared into the sunset. Despite the fact that we were…sitting in church…our human curiosity got the better of us and we began to crane our necks…hoping for a glimpse of the wayward twosome. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man and woman slide into the row in front of us and sit down…it was them. After the service, we exchanged handshakes and pleasantries…and left thinking about the strangeness of the encounter.

As we moved out into the hallway, we were greeted by a man who, only a few months ago had discharged my husband from his job of 11 years, during a downsizing. During the ensuing conversation, we found out that, after the company used this individual to do their dirty work, they let him go as well. Before moving forward even one more step…a friend of the ‘company man’ walked up and was greeted by my husband, my son, and the company man…whereupon each looked at the other in amazement as they realized that they all had this acquaintance in common.

We left church talking about the events thus far. We soon arrived at a local Bar B Q place for lunch…a party of 11. As we sat at our table eating and chatting, we looked up to see a couple who we had not seen in three years or so…standing in line to eat. Hugs and updates were exchanged over the next ten minutes or so!

What an odd world we live in. I can’t help but reflect on the particular people who we were brought in contact with today. I believe that things happen for a reason, so is it possible that…the couple who left church and community in disgrace…may have been a reminder that God has forgiven them…and we should too, the man who dismissed my husband…perhaps to remind us that we don’t have a solitary claim to hardship…even though it sometimes seems as though we do! And…the last couple…a bright spot…at the end of remembrance of more sobering times.

All of these things…after a communion service…This Do In Remembrance Of Me…Godcidence…if ever I saw it!

Be Well!