The gas grill on the back of a pickup truck in front of me, as our vehicles zoomed 65 miles per hour down the highway, was a stresser. Could I really trust the grill was securely strapped in? Simply having to ask myself the question made it a lane changer.
Three days later, while visiting my dad in California, it felt right to attend worship at a little Episcopal church. When the time came for the sermon, a young priest just back from a trip made his way to the pulpit. He proceeded to open his message by saying how three days ago he was on a highway trying to make his way to the airport and flight home when suddenly a grill on the back of a pickup truck in front of him came loose.
Say what?
Synchronicities (meaningful, uncanny “coincidences” which often defy rational explanation in terms of overlapping content and/or timing) are ways Spirit and The Universe send guidance. Synchronicities (a term used by Carl Jung) have also been understood as “God winks” and similar terms—references to Sacred symbols or signs signaling love, affirmation, and/or clues if not confirmation in answer to our questions concerning which choice or direction in life to take on the journey. Synchronicities, aside from practical life guidance, ultimately open us to wonder. And Mystery.
Perhaps synchronicities happen simply for The Sacred’s own play, joy, and sport of it. Regardless, I suspect synchronicities and other signs happen more frequently than not, only we aren’t always aware. Perhaps our spiritual allies and other messengers or manifestations of The Sacred are shouting, “Wake up. Are you paying attention?” I’m not sure I always am.
But I was that June 2024 Sunday morning when the young priest recounted how a gas grill on the back of that truck was headed right at him. The grill miraculously made its way to the ditch of the congested big city highway without hitting anyone. But! The inner part of the grill used to set burgers? It kept flying. It flew right at him. Beneath his rental car. Then out the back end of it. At first, he was relieved. But then the dashboard flat tire signal shone brightly, and the vehicle began to struggle as he maneuvered his way off the multi-lane highway amid back-to-back traffic (Note to Self: Be extra careful returning rental car to airport tomorrow when heading home).
My fellow priest ended this portion of his sermon saying how sometimes we humans are tempted to take pleasure when those who upset or anger us experience trouble of their own. He gave an example of the person who dangerously tailgated you for miles finally zooming past you only to be pulled over for speeding by a police officer moments later. There’s the initial sense of satisfaction at that person’s being busted. The priest then alluded to a kind of confession of anger toward the hauler of that grill, even if that person was unaware of the danger they caused.
The sermon shifted to the biblical story of David and Jonathan. Strong was their friendship and love for each other despite the painful political shenanigans swirling around them. As the priest put it, if your BFF/Best Friend Forever’s dad tries killing you (the way Jonathan’s dad, King Saul, did several times with David), it’s likely a game changer for your fiercely close friendship with your Bestie. Same thing if you were Jonathan, the rightful heir to the throne when sidestepped for his BFF David as the next King.
And yet, within this biblical story, ego, jealousy, and revenge don’t win. Love and friendship win … despite all the typical reasons to loathe, avoid, and resent each other.
The Episcopal priest was holding up a mirror, pointing it toward our own lives amid all the political divisiveness and shenanigans of our day. On this Sunday morning after the first presidential debate in 2024 amid years of national polarization, hate, and strife among “We the People,” he inserted the uncomfortable question: “Like the tailgater who gets pulled over for speeding, do you and I have any degree of pleasure when the political leader we disagree with the most is caught messing up, is injured, vulnerable, or stumbles?”
Do I ever do that? Do you?
The way this young priest asked this question skillfully avoided taking a political side; no one was getting off the hook. Then Great Spirit and Mystery took my breath away through this young whippersnapper priest who clearly hasn’t given up hope—despite flying grills and flat tires along our personal and common or national life journey. Maybe it was my feeling fearful for the survival of this nation and planet mingling with his message that caused the words of the prayer at the end of his sermon to grab my heart more than it normally would. Perhaps it was also because, like many of us, I can get to doubting or occasionally forgetting my life purpose (which may or may not have anything to do with one’s career). Perhaps, like you at times, I forget why I’m here. What I’m to do and be; whether in the big scheme of things it really matters. Keep in mind the presidential debate was also still reeling in my heart. It felt like we as a nation are beyond the tipping point, though it sure helped sitting next to a Catholic priest from an African nation at the Cedar Rapids airport on the flight out to California who reminded me how this is still a wonderful country—don’t ever forget that.
Back to the Episcopal whippersnapper priest and Spirit conspiring to take my breath away: At the end of the sermon wherein the biblical narrative on love and friendship amid broken times was woven with our present-day reality, I received the blessing of this prayer from my hope-filled priest colleague who prayed something like this:
“Dear God.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to live in these difficult times.
To love,
and be love.”
May healing peace enfold you, our nation, all peoples and beings … including those you love, and those you may struggle to love.
—Rev. Dr. Catherine Quehl-Engel, adapted from a Calm with Catherine reflection
Rev. Dr. Catherine Quehl-Engel offers spiritual retreats, sound healing, and qigong at Prairiewoods. Chaplain Emeritus of Cornell College, she also finds joy in semi-retirement serving as spiritual guide and companion, artist, retreat leader, and teacher of both meditative energy-based mind-body-spirit healing practices and related Christian and inter-spiritual wisdom through CalmwithCatherine.com and beyond. Join her Dec. 13–15 for Winter’s Wisdom, Rest & Renewal: A Solstice & Advent Retreat.
photo is Nightfall Caresses a Wisconsin Prairie by Catherine Quehl-Engel