Windbreak

Joshua Moppin, acting as a windbreak for his children.

Windbreak

It felt as if it had turned winter overnight.  The day before had been beautiful; an azure blue sky, a light breeze, with a temperature in the low 70’s.  Now the wind was coming from the north.  It was sort of stiff.  It was chilling for sure and standing on the cold cement of a residential driveway seemed to allow nature’s cold to climb into our feet, up our legs and then into the core of our chests where it was greeting the wind.  Joshua and I were feeling uncomfortable because of the weather.  Yet his eyes were pleading for another reason.

““It’s hard to get up every day, put a smile on my face and go to work when I’m struggling for my kids.”  He said.  “I’ve been spending the last few nights at the hospital because my daughter’s there and she needs me now, more than ever.”

His words joined in with the icy wind beating against my chest.

“I don’t know what’s happened!”  He continued.  “When my kids were little they were so joyful and fun to be with.  Now, as teenagers, they seem to be confused about their capabilities and future.”

We continued to talk.  There on that cold driveway, battling icy winds.  Nature’s blustering was a clear reminder that winter had arrived and the societal headwinds that Joshua is experiencing is blowing against all of us, as parents.  He, like lots of others, is working to protect the people he ushered into the world.  And, our conversation was acting as the windbreak Joshua needed in the moment.

I first learned of the importance of a windbreak as a child, while traveling by car over the windswept plains of Wyoming during the winter.  My parents pointed out the large brown horizontal-slat-fences that stood guard along I-80.  They told me of their two-fold purpose.  First, to slow the howling wind as it rushed ferociously across the land.  Second, to capture as much blowing snow as possible.  In short, their job is to help keep the road, where they stand, clearer, so travelers can continue forward more safely.  Still, there are times when the essential work they do isn’t enough and some people die.  Yet, when I drove that same freeway, east bound, about one year ago, fifty or so years later, those fences were still there, standing as sentinels, helping me pass through the teeth of a frightening winter storm.

While standing on the concrete looking in that same easterly direction, Joshua reminded me of those solitary sentinels.  Here’s what I saw as I marveled at his strength of purpose.

First, Joshua knows that even though he and his teenaged children are battling buffeting winds now, that won’t always be the case.  If he can shelter his loved ones from the very worst, perhaps they’ll have a chance to learn important lessons while still being able to live successful lives over time.

Second, he is continuing to model a way of living that will help show others the way toward success.  He can do this himself, independently.  But, there is no way for him for force others into finding and accepting the shelter of his demonstrated path.

Third, he knows there is only so much he can do.  The dreaded possibility that he may not be able to save everyone he holds dear will continue to worry him if the winds his loved-ones venture into become too violent.

Fourth, he firmly holds on to the knowledge that the only way to defeat violence is through strong, never failing love.  Nothing can stop him from demonstrating that love, no matter the strength of the winds he’s laboring to break.

Finally, Joshua now knows that he has at least one friend and ally who will stand with him. Because I told him I would during our time together.

As Joshua and I talked together It felt as if it had turned winter overnight.  The day before had been beautiful; an azure blue sky, a light breeze, with a temperature in the low 70’s.  Now the wind was coming from the north.  It was sort of stiff.  It was chilling for sure and standing on the cold cement of a residential driveway seemed to allow nature’s cold to climb into our feet, up our legs and then into the core of our chests where it was greeting the wind.  Joshua and I were feeling uncomfortable because of the weather.  Yet his eyes were showing the deepest kind of strength.

Joshua Moppin’s warm, boundless affection is acting as a windbreak for his children as they struggle to grow into his love.

The Coincidence-Connection

“Are you looking for information?” - Jacquie Brockhoff

The Coincidence-Connection

It was unfamiliar territory.  You know how it is.  You’re driving around and see a neighborhood, a place, that catches your attention for some reason. That was the case on this bright day.  And so, for some reason I stopped the car right there on the corner, off the state highway, so I could look, discover, more intently at what it was that caught my attention.  When I did, something else caught my notice.

Another car, headed in the opposite direction stopped right next to me.  The driver, a woman, lowered her window and asked, “Are you looking at our neighborhood?”

“Yes.”  I replied.

“Great she said!  I’ve lived here for a couple of years and I love it!  There are three model homes right there.”  She said, pointing to the first home on my right.  “Would you like to walk through them with me?” Jacquie Brockhoff continued, with a friendly, warm, energetic smile.

Though hesitant, because I was still unsure of why I had stopped there, I accepted her invitation.  We spent the next twenty minutes, or so, walking through the three homes and getting to know each other a little bit.

As it turned out, Jacquie doesn’t work for the builder of the homes we toured that day.  She doesn’t even sell real estate.  She works for a company called Tankersley UniProl Foodservice, where she acts as a Seafood Specialist.  She said, “I just had a feeling I should stop and help you.”

I’ve been pondering her kind assistance and this experience over the past six months, or so, trying to discover a reason for this coincidence.  Why was I drawn to that place, on that day and time?  Why did Jacquie stop to help me, a perfect stranger?  Was there a message in this occurrence for me?  An answer to this question didn’t take long to arrive in the form of another person.

Less than one month later a friend of mine, Susan Monroe, currently living in Sacramento came to visit.  During her visit Susan, Justin and I spent a few minutes strolling through a gallery, filled with exceptional pieces of art.  The beauty surrounding us seemed to open her mouth and she confided, “I need to leave Sacramento. I can do my work from anywhere and I’ve been looking for the right place to live.  I am pretty sure this is the right place.”

She went on to describe her ideal home and neighborhood.  We talked about it over the three days she was visiting and to my surprise she described the neighborhood Jacquie had shown me!  I just knew it.  So, Susan, Justin and I drove over to the neighborhood together.  She and Justin loved it, and now in two weeks, Susan and Justin will be renting a home there. Coincidence?  Another message?

Are there really any coincidences in our lives?  While asking myself this question I’ve thought back on many other interesting coincidences that have occurred over time.  And, a noticeable pattern has come more into focus.

Our universe is made up of energy, energy that responds to our expectations.  People are part of that energy universe too, so when we have a question, the people who have the answer show up to deliver it to us.  And now, I’m just trying to get this through my head.

Everyone who crosses our path has a message for us.  Otherwise they would have taken another path, or left earlier or later.  The fact that these people, like Jacquie and Susan, come at a specific moment means that they are there for a reason.  The hard part is figuring out who to take time to talk with when talking with everyone is impossible!  That means it’s essential to develop a sense of recognition.

How do you do that?

The first step is to begin to analyze the coincidences that naturally come your way.  See them for what they are.  An opportunity to receive an important message.

The second step is to make a corollary recognition; you also have important messages to deliver to the people with whom you “coincidently” come into contact with.

Finally, remember to always keep your own particular questions in mind.  That way you will be able to benefit more quickly than those not consciously making the coincidence-connection.  Even people who are still unaware of this coincidence phenomenon can stumble into answers and see coincidences in retrospect.  

Using retrospective reflection will open the way for you to see concurrences as a source for answers as they arrive, so your everyday proficiency will be heightened.

For most of us, this is unfamiliar territory. But, you’ll know how it really is.  You’ll be living your life naturally, when someone or something catches your attention for some reason. That can be the case every day if you keep our particular questions in the forefront of your mind.  You can assume every event; every meeting has significance and contains messages that somehow pertain to answering the questions you’re grappling with.

But, there’s one more thing. The key to this.  Being able to really use the coincidence-connection to its full measure, additionally means, speaking-up, entering into an exchange. It’s also when it is your moment to give a message to others.  Because it is someone else’s coincidence too.