The coincidence. Some of us experience them frequently, often gliding through the experience and paying it no mind. Others search for deeper meaning of connection to a bigger picture at play. I can say with all honesty that while I have experienced both scenarios, as life unfolds, I have become more aware of the latter.
Years ago, as a mom of young toddlers, we’d make it a practice of getting out of the house early in the day. I would take them for strolls in a big red double stroller around the picturesque lakes of our community. In a big red double stroller, we were a spectacle not to be missed. On an ordinary morning, before the sun had reached it’s peak, we headed out in search of what the day would bring. As we approached the lake, a large pit bull came charging towards us. He/She was sprite in her gallop and exuberant in her leaps. In one moment he/she jumped onto my stroller. My kids, unaware of any danger, fostered deep belly laughs, delighted by the encounter with the rambunctious pup. Panicked, I would lay my body over them, baring the weight of the dog who continued to jump on and off the stroller. In a moment of respite, I gathered my bearings and ran. A woman spotted the commotion and feverishly singled for us to run through an open door to the house that lay at the base of the street. I ran with all my might, dog in tow, children roaring with laughter. As I crossed the threshold of my rescue haven, the dog would follow and do the same. He/she ran into the home, just as I did. To my horror, a very pregnant homeowner, inside and unaware of my dilemma, sought the refuge of her kitchen counter. Her housekeeper, (the woman to offer me rescue) would eventually shoo the dog out of the house and close the door after a few intense minutes. I tearfully apologized profusely to the homeowner. In that moment that the homeowner displayed enough kindness and grace to overload the room. She insisted I stay as long as I needed to calm myself and let the moment pass, seemingly unbothered by the excitement I’d brought to her doorstep. I would take a moment to gather myself before heading home, profoundly shaken by the incident.
Years would pass and my gleeful toddlers matured into school aged kids. The days of leisure red stroller walks had given way to carpool lines of Kindergarten. My son would one day come home with a handwritten map from a new friend he’d made in class. He was excited by the prospect of an invitation to play and the map would serve as guidance to his home along with contact information. I reached out to his parents to confirm the details and that Saturday we were on our way to one of his very first home playdates without me. To our surprise and delight, the friendly face that would open the door was the same that years earlier welcomed me into her home during the dog chase. Joshua and Jackson would go on to develop a strong and vital friendship that continues through these middle school days. As a double domino affect, I would develop an enduring friendship with his mother, Melissa. It is a kinship that has ventured beyond the pleasantries in passing to one that is supportive in nature and endures with ease.
I can honestly say that I am grateful for that playful natured pit bull. It seemed as if he/she were dumped in our
community and was simply looking for a way home. Someone rescued him/her that day around the lake after our fateful encounter. The dog opened the door for a chance meeting that would bloom and blossom in ways unbeknownst to our family. This story is an echoing sentiment for most of my experiences with coincidences. They are grand illusions at best. Mythical presentations of life’s promises if you keenly aware and choose to see it.
