A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Pier
I have to write this down because there are just too many coincidences. When you get coincidences stacked up a fair bit, you realize you are not dealing with normal reality. That is an important question because other than people influencing reality, there are two main combatants who change the odds on things. Here goes.
I wanted to go fishing. The best place for me to go was the Santa Monica Pier. I can get there with one bus in about 45 minutes time. The adventure started quite calmly last Thursday when I decided to go investigate the process with a trip to the pier.
When I got there, I met Richard. Richard was a street person who supported himself by catching fish off of the pier and selling them to others for a small amount of money. Richard was more than happy to relate what fishing gear he had, what he recommended, what bait to use and what fish could be caught. What I thought was interesting was the ten tourists or so who leaned in to hear the conversation between Richard and I. Then I talked to another couple and she gave me two free fish which my sister and I had for dinner that night.
Coincidence 1: Richard provides the basic tips and lists for me to fish.
Coincidence 2: Nice Hispanic Lady gives me two free fish. (Very good eating by the way.)
It gets better. The next day is Friday and I go to my chiropractor.
Coincidence 3: My Chiropractor is an avid fisherman
Coincidence 4: He loans me a 3 inch thick book on sport fishing with color plates on fish so I can tell what in God's creation I happpened to catch.
Coincidence 5: He tells me he has extra fishing gear and if I would come back to his office next Tuesday, he would bring to the office and I could have it. We talk and agree on specifics.
Saturday I go fishing at the pier by myself for the first time. Point of information, I have fished freshwater.. just not saltwater. I meet Christopher, a wonderful Hispanic man and another tourist who is here on his first day in Los Angeles (very limited english).
Coincidence 6: Tourist knows little english but much fishing and delights in showing me elaborate knots, proper depth on my line weights and helps me understand how to change hooks and other gear quickly and safely.
Coincidence 7; Christopher decides he likes me. Offers me food, shares bait, helps me untangle my open face reel, demonstrates proper casting techniques and identifies what I've caught. I decide I like Christopher too.
Coincidence 8: The 405 freeway is shut down here in Los Angeles so the public trnsportation (Metro) makes many bus lines free fare for the weekend. I do my fishing trip for free.
Coincidence 9: Turns out no fishing license is required to fish from the Santa Monica pier. GO ME!
Tuesday (Today) I go to the Chiropractor office to consult over potential loan of fishing gear. He remarks that another patient came on last Friday as well. This other patient [Will} has a fishing radio show, takes children out on fishing trips (free) with loaned gear (free) and was impressed that I was wiling to go to this much effort to dunk bait in the water.
Coincidence 10: Will offers to take me to Long Beach on a boat for free and turned down my offer of gas money (MOM, I DID OFFER IT!!!) Oh, and they go whale watching too.
Ok, about this point, I'm realizing that there is more to my decision to go fishing than a simple urge. I write this down for you not to brag. I didn't arrange any of this. I was given it. I'm sure that other people have stories like this. I'm not sure what 'it all means'... other than to thank God and catch fish. Maybe you have some insight on this that I don't. I'm just marveling in a low state of shock.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on -
Juline,
From an isolated wishand action to a community who cared and shared your passion. Christ not only gives us community to support us during the storms but to share in our joys and expand our lives. You made contact with an incredible number of people who shared your interest and became supportive and joyfully gave advise, equipment and themselves so you might also be encouraged and blessed. You have been a blessing to me. I'm glad others blessed you.
Thank God and continue to fish.
Rose
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Permalink Reply by Tami on -
In a way, you relived the fishing parable. It just wasn't the fish that multiplied, it was the people to provide the knowledge. What a wonderful group of experiences you had! PTL, so many blessings and so many smiles out of it!
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on -
Hey there Rose! Thank you for confirming my destiny. I do believe that I have a calling on my life. There are times when it gets hard to understand. You have a way of making complicated things simple. Thank you again!
One funny moment was yesterday afternoon. My husband went and bought groceries. He bought fish fillets from the store wtih a knowing idea that I wanted to eat fish (I'm the only one who likes it of the four of us)... and it was such a sweet gesture. I really loved that he could buy that food for me without having a taste for it himself.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Tami, you are absolutely right! This prop, this fishing pole, opened a door for me that I could not have believed if told. God's urge to go fishing was the ticket to community here. I'm going to ride this ride as far as goes.
I do believe that Will is a God appointment. There is all this time on the boat to chat. I believe that there will be a God designed topic of conversation that will occur during that interval. In the meantime, gonna do my best to live in the grace for today.
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Permalink Reply by Ronny on -
**claps*** Yay domino effect! Love this story! You know what this says most to me? I think we can often believe God's blessings will only be spiritual, and of course His spiritual blessings are many. But I have often found He gives really nice material blessings as well, often without our asking, as you've found through the people you've met and enjoyed spending time with.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Hello Ronny! Applause feels great! Passing the applause upwards towards our Father, I totally agree wtih you. Providence is real. The material help that I've gotten from Him would fill several pages of text just to list it. Knowing that something in your hand originated from Heaven just takes faith and supersizes it.
Pardon my curiosity, but what are some of your favorite things you've been given?
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Permalink Reply by Ronny on
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Well there was the time I got an unexpectedly high tax refund at just the time when I was paying for chemo for my cat.It was just the right amount to clear that debt. There was the time a woman I didn't know offered to share an umbrella with me on a very wet day when I was soaked and miserable, and still a long way from the bus stop. There was the time I was leaving the shop with a trolley full of groceries and it was pouring down (living in Australia I wouldn't dream of praying for it to stop raining as we need it too much) and the rain switched off just as I started out into the carpark, turning back on when I was settled in my car. There was the time when a broken stereo system that I could not afford to fix or replace mysteriously came back to life. I could go on all day, and it just makes me want to sing praises to a loving and generous Father. We know He will answer prayers, but I guess I am always extra thrilled when He gives us things we don't even ask for. And little things, things that aren't earth shattering or world changing, but make a day just a little easier to get through.
Juline Bruck said:Hello Ronny! Applause feels great! Passing the applause upwards towards our Father, I totally agree wtih you. Providence is real. The material help that I've gotten from Him would fill several pages of text just to list it. Knowing that something in your hand originated from Heaven just takes faith and supersizes it.
Pardon my curiosity, but what are some of your favorite things you've been given?
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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I MEANT to write yesterday. Yesterday evaporated. I'm here now, though! What a cool list you provided., That God notices our small moments, our big moments, EVERYTHING... is so mind expanding. You definitely expanded my mind.
Maybe waiting a day to answer helped me think of a few more providence perspectives. I love that God is meeting my needs for childcare for the upcoming school year. I do believe that I'll be re-joining the workforce. A friend volunteered a tremendous service for me. It is so beautiful because of its completeness. THere isn't anything missing to it. I think that's one of the hallmarks of providence is its completeness. It really does meet the need.
Some people may not have experienced it or wondered if they had a gift from God. Milght be helpful to those reading if we maybe listed a couple of the characteristics of Providence. What do you think, Ronny (and anyone else who wants to join in?)
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Permalink Reply by Ronny on
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–noun
1.2.( initial capital letter
) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.3.a manifestation of divine care or direction.That's what the dictionary says. Jesus tells us to pray 'give us this day our daily bread' ie pray for what we need. Does anyone ever find themselves limiting what they pray for? You know,thinking 'oh I don't NEED that, not really, so I shouldn't pray for it'. I love how God oftentimes sees needs a lot differently than we do, and I think some of the examples we've been giving here show that. For instance, did that woman who held an umbrella over me that day meet a tangible need? Well, no. I was as soaked as it was possible to be, and it was way too late for an umbrella. But she met a spiritual one, by showing me at a very low point in my life that there were people out there who cared about me. Did Juline need all those people who came her way when she wanted to fish? Possibly not, but it sounds like she's having fun. So, God can often meet needs of a different nature, a need of the mind, or the spirit, a need we may not even be aware that we have. That's 'forseeing care and guidance', in abundance. -
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Hey there Ronny!
The last 11 days.. well.. err.. um.. I've been slacking. Sorry!
Thank you so much for writing this. My lack of response did not communicate the truth. You made an awesome contribution. WHen I read this again NOW, I realized that my new job exactly meets your definition. I'm humbled by it. It's interesting that you wrote this on August 1, and I've received my blessing on August 11. The foreseeing care provided this definition 10 days ahead of my life's circumstances.
Ronny, I won't miss your posts again. (and that goes for you as well, Rose!! )
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