WAS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE?

Last weekend I had an extraordinary experience that made me realize the universe was looking out for me. It seemed like more than a mere coincidence. On Saturday afternoon, I planned to visit a friend named Jim to rehearse some songs together for an upcoming concert we were planning. Even though Jim gave me directions to his home, he lived in a neighborhood I did not know. I took the light rail and an express bus that took me near his street address. But as soon as I got off the bus, I got turned around since my sense of directions has always left a lot to be desired.

When I decided to use my cell phone to get more specific directions. But to my great dismay, my phone chose this moment to stop working. Everytime I tried to call Jim, the phone kept giving me this message: "Call ended! Call ended!" I tried calling my land-line but got the same message: "Call ended! Call ended!" By now I really felt lost and frustrated because there was no way to reach my friend to get directions to his house. I began walking down a street that I thought might lead me there. But I just got more lost. I was about to give up and go back home.

Then I spied an elderly lady walking towards me. In times I've gotten lost in the past, I've never hesitated to ask for help. So, I stopped her and asked if she knew this neighborhood, and could help me find out how to get to Jim's street address. I also mentioned that my cell phone wasn't working. She turned out to be very helpful. She told me she lived in this neighborhood not far from where I'd gotten off the bus. She gave me directions to Jim's house. Not only that, but she also let me use her cell phone so I could call Jim. While she was talking, I noticed that she had a strong German-sounding foreign accent. When I asked her about it, she told me she was from Switzerland. I told her I was born in Germany and had emigrated to the U.S. when I was nine. Then somehow, I don't remember exactly how, she told me her name was Verena and she knew who I was. Not only that, but she knew a close friend of mine named Steve. Both of us belonged to the same German-speaking group that met online. After letting me use her phone, Verena even invited me to come visit her some time.

Because of Verena's kindly intervention, I was able to reach Jim's place. As it turned out, he met me half way, and escorted me the rest of the way to his home. We were able to practice our songs for the concert. I couldn't help but be struck by the way everything worked out in

this wonderful and unexpexted way just when I was about to give up. Not only had the universe looked out for me, but I made a new friend to boot.