OtherThanThat

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When I first began my journey to living a sober life, there was a lot of talk of God.

That freaked me out.

I mean it’s not that I had an issue believing in a power greater than myself. Though I grew up with a relationship to my religious heritage that was more cultural and procedural than spiritual, even as a kid I felt a distinct connection to a great energy in the world. I spent tons of time outside – especially when we were down at our house by the Jersey shore.

After we would spend a day at the beach, I’d often hop on my bike and ride to the western side of Absecon Island (the barrier reef island in New Jersey on which Atlantic City, Ventnor and Margate are perched), and find as isolated a spot as possible (in those days there were plenty) where I could sit at the edge of the water and watch the late day sun dance in a chorus line of diamonds across the vast expanse of bay.

So when I was guided to look about my life on a regular basis and look for “God shots” – moments of inexplicable serendipity and “coincidence” – in spite of feeling a bit awkward, it wasn’t that far a stretch.

We all have those moments. Even if you utterly eschew the idea of some sort of Universal energy or power, you’ve had them. That time when you’re thinking about someone, the phone rings and their voice is on the other end of the line. That moment when you have a thought in your mind, you open a book or newspaper and the very words on which your eyes alight seem a perfectly scripted answer.

At one point someone suggested I keep a small notebook handy and whenever one of these moments struck, I write it down. The idea being that in those times when things may be difficult I could open this notebook, turn to any page, and be reminded that when I’m able to set aside an ego-driven blinders-on mindset, there are moments of magic all around me.

Tonight after returning from a work event, I sat in my car in my driveway just pausing for a moment to breathe before gathering my things to go inside. The thought of someone wafted through my mind, and in that moment I heard music coming from my bag sitting on the passenger seat. Of course a scientific mind would say that the phone was bumped while I drove, the screen lock was off and the music app icon got nudged. That would likely be accurate. That the lyrics of the song that played were a direct response to the thoughts that just had sauntered through my mind to me speaks of a message, a message I was meant to hear, and which put a smile on my face.

So to you my friends I posit this.

If you’re having a hard day, struggling with a thought or have someone on your mind, pause. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. The answer you seek may be right in front of you for the taking if you are willing to be willing.