what a coinkidink... or not?
Lately I've been pondering that mysterious phenomenon known as the 'coincidence' - or 'coinkidink', as my sister would say.
Most Christians (and, for that matter, probably Muslims, Jews and Buddhists as well) would argue that there is, in fact, no such thing as a 'coincidence'. That is, when "a sequence of events that although accidental seems to have been planned or arranged" (dictionary.com) occurs, it is in fact "planned or arranged" - by God (or Allah, Yahweh or karma).
But I think that becomes a bit of an uncomfortable stance for me, because it implies that every incidence, ever, is the work of God; if nothing is accidental, then God must be responsible for everything that ever happens. So, just as that means I can thank Him when I happen to find a very convenient parking spot at uni when the chances of that happening are almost nil, it means I can blame Him for all the red traffic lights on the way to uni that made me late and in a hurry to find a parking spot in the first place. Equally, I can thank Him that, when I had a car 'accident' last year, the other driver hit my car where he did, and not 2 feet further back - in which case I would have been very seriously injured. However, that also means God is directly to blame for the crash in the first place (and every other crash that's ever happened - many of them fatal).
Do you see my dilemma then? Believing in the lovely kind generous God who gives me and my friends a beautiful sunny day so we can enjoy going to the beach, means believing in the cruel, uncaring God who deprives the farmer of the much needed rain for which he has been begging for months.
Right now it's raining in Perth. And right now, as I said in my last post, I have very little money to last me until late next week. The latter meant that, instead of going out for a 'bought' dinner with my friend tonight, I was going to pack a picnic and therefore go a bit earlier. The former has meant that we've had to change plans again; eat dinner at our respective homes, then I'll pick her up and take her out for hot chocolate. Because now I'm not going until later, I've been at my sister's place until about half an hour ago. Then when I got home I had a message from my friend saying she "just got a call from a friend in tears and she's coming over to talk for a bit". So I was thinking how two very inconvenient factors in my life have meant that my friend is available to care for and listen to her distressed friend, when otherwise she would have been busy with me.
Coincidence?
I like the way the movie 'Signs' communicates the idea that things which can seem inconvenient and even cruel for ever such a long time, can end up being necessary. The clearest example being the way the main boy's asthma meant that the alien's venom didn't make it into his lungs, so he survived when otherwise he would've died.
The story of Joseph, in the OT, is full of cruel 'coincidences' which end up being apparently necessary to save a whole nation from famine.
So, I don't really know where that leaves me. Except that maybe I should thank God, not only when He gives me good and pleasant things and keeps me from harm, but also when I experience hardship and failure and let-downs...and red traffic lights. Hebrews 12 tells us to "endure harship as discipline; God is treating you as sons...No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
I definitely think I need to learn to "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). That's a pretty clear commandment, and it doesn't seem to leave any room for grumbling or blaming God when things don't go my way!
So perhaps, next time I'm sitting at a red traffic light when I'd rather not be, instead of getting frustrated and angry, I'll exercise passionate patience.
Next time I'm reminded of the dismally small number on my ATM receipt, instead of getting depressed, I'll be joyful; I'll pray and give thanks for the way it's producing a harvest of godliness in me, and for the happy 'coincidences' it might just bring about!
posted by deborah @ 6:44 PM
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