Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Reflection: Coincidences or Miracles?

Bill Landauer
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Palo Alto, CA

I have always had a lot of so-called “women’s intuition.” Many times I have predicted when someone would call me or a certain letter would come in the mail. Also, for years now my life has been full of synchronistic events. I would like to tell you about some of these. I will leave it to you to decide if they were coincidences or miracles.

Here is my first example of synchronistic events. The personal growth teacher Wayne Dyer has been a great inspiration to me. I look for opportunities to meet him in person. In one of his PBS specials and books, he introduced an amazing survivor of the Rwandan genodice, Immaculee Ilibagiza. Immaculee survived by hiding in a 3 x 5 foot bathroom with 8 other women for 91 days. She could hear the Hutus yelling her name, trying to find her to butcher her. The rest of her family, except for one brother, was butchered. Although she experienced the worst possible, she chose to stay centered in love and forgiveness. I was inspired by Immaculee’s story; after hearing it, I wanted to meet her. Soon afterwards, my wife Laurie and I were vacationing on Maui. I was stung by a Portuguese Man of War while snorkeling. The pain was overwhelming and I called the paramedics, who said all I could do was wait for it to subside. While doing so, I tried to copy Immaculee’s example and felt peace radiate through my soul. I was aware that Wayne Dyer lived in Maui. So the next day when I felt well enough, I jokingly suggested to Laurie that we go to a certain restaurant on Kaanapali Beach and hope to run into him. We did so, but Wayne was not around. On the way back to our car, we stopped in an art gallery and by chance got to meet our favorite Maui photographer for the first time. That conversation took just long enough that when we exited the parking garage, who should be walking by but Wayne Dyer! I beckoned him over to the car but was disappointed to see that he was on his cell phone. However, Laurie heard him say “Hold on, Immaculee.” She asked if he was talking to Immaculee Ilibagiza. He said he was, asked if I wanted to talk to her, and handed me the phone. I then had a wonderful conversation with Immaculee in which I told her about my experience with the Portuguese Man of War and how she had inspired me then and at many other times too.

My second example of a synchronistic event involves a phone call. As you’ve probably heard me say before, last September I injured my back. I was in a lot of pain and was prescribed morphine for it. The afternoon of November 10^th was particularly bad for me. I was home alone and at the lowest point in my life. I had to struggle greatly to keep from killing myself. In desperation, I looked at a religious greeting card that Rosanne, a friend of Laurie’s, had sent me. We did not normally see or hear from Rosanne very often. But I needed something and thought that since Rosanne was religious, maybe I could call her and ask her to pray with me for God to save me. I thought REALLY HARD about calling her for about 10 minutes, but ended up calling my daughter instead. That helped somewhat. Then Laurie, who had been out trying to get a new prescription for me, came home. A minute or so later, the phone rang. It was Rosanne, calling for Laurie from the park next to our house. I answered the phone and when I heard her voice, I started crying. I couldn’t believe she happened to call at that moment and be so close by. She could tell I was in bad shape and asked if I wanted her to come over, which of course I did. She was a great help to me in getting through that terrible afternoon.

My last example of synchronicity takes place at Casa Palmera, a treatment center where I later went to be treated for pain, anxiety and depression. I was feeling down and thought that the other residents did not understand me. Then one day a small group of us attended equine or horse therapy. When it was my turn to interact with the horse, I approached him gently and with great love. I was not aware of it but, at that moment, 3 hawks appeared and started circling above my head. When I left the horse, they left. The other residents there with me felt a strong sense of wonder and awe at this occurrence. Tara in particular wrote about it in my journal and shared about it with her therapist. After this incident, things changed for me at Casa Palmera. I broke free from my anxiety and depression. The other residents felt the shift too; the whole atmosphere at Casa Palmera changed for the better. But there is more. My lucky number has been 1111 for about 7 years now. Well, the day after our equine therapy, Tara mentioned to me that her birthday is November 11th, 1111. Also, another resident who had been with me at equine therapy, Tiffonie, said that her lucky number also was 1111.

Now I leave it to you to decide if these events were coincidental or if there could be something bigger going on. Perhaps you have even had some synchronistic events occur in your life and would like to tell me about them.

Sermon: A UU View of Miracles by Rev. Scotty McLennan