Do You Believe Things Happen For A Reason?
Published on 23 May 2008 at 11:16 am.
12 Comments.
Filed under Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
I do.
I believe in synchronicities and looking at experiences as healing and growth opportunities. Sometimes the opportunity is obvious or discovered through self-reflection and conversations with others. Other times the message can remain a mystery. You may never really know what the experience was about and it doesn’t matter. What does is how you show up to each moment.
Here’s what happened to me several days ago….
I was returning home on Monday from a business retreat in NC (which I’ll also blog about cuz there was a lot happening!!!). I was tired from the weekend and I was looking forward to coming home. When I left a few days earlier, the rainy weather caused several delays and gate changes before we finally took off. I wanted the return flight and ride home to be easy and flowing.
It was.
US Airways took off on time. We arrived fifteen minutes early, I had all my luggage with me, and the airport shuttle delivered me to my car in record time. I even had a coupon for a free day of parking and I was able to save another day’s parking fee because I arrived back around the time I first parked. I was loving it all!
Traffic flowed and I planned to make a quick stop at my favorite store, Trader Joe’s to pick up some groceries for the week. Just perfect.
As I was getting out of my car, I noticed I couldn’t find my keys. I had just taken them out of the ignition and I was having trouble locating them. At the same time, I had grabbed an insulated bag I use to keep frozen foods cold that I placed on the ground with my car door open while I searched for my keys.
Well, it was very windy and the bag blew under the car. Of course I got out to find it and when I turned around I saw the car door had blown shut. And it was locked. I must have automatically flipped the door lock as I was expecting to leave my car and there I was. Standing outside with nothing but my sunglasses.
You can imagine what I was thinking. My mind was racing for options and I was trying not to get upset. Thank goodness I was in a shopping center instead of the middle of nowhere!
So, I walked into Trader Joe’s and headed for the customer service desk to use the phone. A friend of mine lives nearby with keys to my house. If she was home, she could pick up my spare set of car keys and bring them to me. Nope - I got her answer machine.
Everyone else I knew was at work and their numbers were in my cell phone locked in my car. I had allowed my AAA to lapse so that wouldn’t help. I even yelled out loud to ask if anyone had that kind of coverage to help me. Nope.
Other options? A locksmith, calling a taxi to take me about 12 miles - I really wanted to avoid that cost unless I was completely out of options.
So, what happened?
I just let go and said out loud, “I need a good Samaritan.” Within seconds a woman checking out said she lived in my area and would give me a lift home. We chatted about her life and her family, shared thoughts and ideas, and I thanked her for her kindness.
My 87-year young neighbor was home and I asked her for help to drive me back for my car. Of course, she said. Thankfully, I have a spare set of keys hidden and I was on my way back to Trader Joe’s within minutes.
Everything was still flowing. You see that, right?
So, what might have been the reasons for all of this happening? What was it all about?
~ Was there something important about meeting the woman who gave me a lift home? Was there something that needed to be heard or spoken?
~ Did I avoid a potential danger by being delayed from continuing home?
~ Was my conversation with the young girl who worked at Trader Joe’s significant for some unknown reason?
Nothing was obvious. It’s a mystery and I believe everything happens for a reason even when I have no idea what it is!
I’m so grateful for the kindness people extended to me and the invitation to trust the Universe (and myself) by having the faith that everything would work out.
Do you believe things happen for a reason?
What do you do when things happen that throw you off balance?
What do you trust no matter what?
What are you grateful for everyday?
Have a wonderfull weekend!
Peace,
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2008/05/23/do-you-believe-things-happen-for-a-reason/trackback/
Alex Blackwell on 23 May 2008 at 12:44 pm: 1
Lorraine - I truly believe there are no accidents without value! Thanks for sharing your story!
Alex
lorraine on 23 May 2008 at 1:08 pm: 2
I think when we can look at life from that perspective Alex
We can let go of feeling like a victim and be open to what the experience brings.
Thanks for your thoughts
Lorraine
Kathleen Gage on 24 May 2008 at 4:25 am: 3
I am a firm believer things happen for a reason. It’s not always evident at the moment they are happening and yet, if we are open and aware, we do see connections.
Nice post Lorraine.
lorraine on 24 May 2008 at 8:43 am: 4
Thanks my friend
Keeping the faith and trust can be the tricky part when we are attached to the experience we want rather than the one that unfolds.
Have a great weekend
Lorraine
Gina on 25 May 2008 at 8:18 pm: 5
I agree Lorraine that there are no coincidences.
What a story! I actually, years ago, locked my keys in my car and my car was still running! Luckily my mom always has a set of my car keys so she got me out of that bind
Now I have a car that won’t lock unless I use the remote-if I lock it manually and shut the door, it unlocks automatically…lucky me!!
Have a great holiday.
Gina
lorraine on 27 May 2008 at 8:02 am: 6
Seems like you’ve covered all the bases Gina
It was a very interesting day! I’m so glad it all worked out and whatever was supposed to happen….happened.
Have a great week
Warmly,
Lorraine
Brennan Kingsland on 27 May 2008 at 4:35 pm: 7
Absolutely, YES! What a great story. reminds me of similar circumstances through the years when I was given a choice to “go with the flow”, or allow myself to get upset.
Going with the flow is a much happier place to be.
Mark McCullagh on 27 May 2008 at 6:23 pm: 8
I believe we can choose to believe that things happen for a reason. This allows us to have appropriate emotional reactions to events in our lives - as opposed to inappropriate reactions like panic, anxiety, rage etc.
For example, the appropriate reaction that you had to locking your keys in the car Lorraine.
lorraine on 27 May 2008 at 8:04 pm: 9
When I look at life through that lens of perception my ability to stay in faith and trust strengthens Brennan
Sounsd like you’ve made the choice to be in acceptance rather than resistance, as much as possible
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map on 27 May 2008 at 8:04 pm: 10
What an interesting day you have! I am also increasingly inclined to believing that things happen for a reason. So if something unexpected happens, the attitude that will be nice to adopt is one of curosity, fun and experimentation!
lorraine on 27 May 2008 at 8:10 pm: 11
Amen Evelyn
Imagine adoptimg that attitude every day. I believe we are called to see circumstances from an expanded viewpoint that invites possibilities. The key is not getting caught in self-created stories and dramas. I was partially in a panic and just too tired to get freaked out. An interesting combination of attitudes that led me to surrender and then things just flowed toward help. It was an amazing experience.
lorraine on 27 May 2008 at 8:15 pm: 12
Yup, our attitudes and beliefs are always a choice Mark
I personally don’t view panic or anger as inappropriate reactions. I see feelings as just that - feelings and we were blessed to have the full range of feelings as humans. They aren’t good or bad…It is how we direct our emotions that affects our experience. We can either create struggle or flow.
Warmly,
Lorraine