Drewbe | Signs and Wonders or Chance and Circumstance

Signs and Wonders or Chance and Circumstance

I was just turning left onto Hill Street Parkway when my iPod switched songs. Sufjan Stevens' "Chicago" transitioned gorgeously into "Beautiful Day" by U2 as I cracked a smile at Elli who was walking at my side. You see, we were having wave after wave of rainstorms come through the area and in between the showers I thought I could get out for some much needed fresh air.

With the heavy bass drum pumping in my ears, we made it to the first entrance of Optimist Park. At that very moment, I turned my head to the north to check for oncoming traffic and noticed a streak of a rainbow just peaking over the Western Foothills. I smiled again. This time thinking about the thrill of seeing something so rare.

But here's what caused me to stop dead in my tracks...

At that EXACT moment, these were the words in the song:

"And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out."

So... my question to you is this, was that moment meant to be taken as a sign from God or should it be seen as mere coincidence? I have no reason to believe it was anything more than statistical probability that had all of those instances line up. But this is where I struggle. What makes something more than circumstance? Why do some read more into events than others? What gives it the seal of approval?

While continuing on with my walk, I began to think about the story of Noah (the guy whom God told to build an ark because the world would be destroyed by a great flood and whom those U2 lines are in reference to). My train of thought led me to ask: is it possible that when he saw the rainbow he was moved to believe it was God's sign or did God actually "vocally" speak to Noah to tell him of the covenant?

To me, this is a huge deal. Here's why... if I believed God audibly speaks then I have little reason to see signs in events or objects and the opposite would be true if I believed the contrary. How about you? What's your opinion on signs and wonders or chance and circumstance? How do they fit into your beliefs?

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Posted on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 by Drewbe filed under

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7 comments (Add your own)

1. Bryant wrote:: This is going to sound like I am riding the fence but I believe it is sometimes by chance or by God's doing. We can never know which one it is.
March 5, 2009 @ 8:29 AM
2. Matt wrote:: I have felt like God was communicating to me very directly only a few times. I didn't know in the moment whether I was really getting a message from him or not. I sort of put the message out of my mind for a while, knowing that I could convince myself either way. But in the cases I'm thinking of, the message stayed in my head, and over time I came to see it as genuine direction.

None of these cases were messages-through-coincidence though, so maybe this is off topic.
March 5, 2009 @ 10:11 AM
3. Rodney Pritchard wrote:: Hey Drew!

If that great confluence had happened to me, I would definitely take it as a sign from God - a way in which my Creator was grabbing a moment and saying "hey, I love you - and yes, I'm right here" to me!

I believe the fact that the parallels immediately appeared to you and "jumped out" to you... and that the very reason you are questioning whether or not it was a coincidence, is a sign that it was MEANT to be noticed, by YOU! Yes, I believe that out Creator uses more than only the Bible to speak to us these days. he can even use U2 and Bono (Joshua tree is one of my favorite albums) Although, I did once hear a Mass performed utilizing the music of U2... that was definitely a tweaky stretch for me.

In my opinion, we have been taught by our world, and many times our religion and even particular denominations to try to ignore the the un-comprehendable and beautiful supernatural world we live in. I believe there is so much more than we know and understand. I ask every day that I would have an openness to all of the good that is all around me, and the good that has been gifted to me.

Many people think that God has stopped speaking - except through scripture - I don't. It seems that some theologians try to compartmentalize it all and try to tell us that in these days, God only speaks through scripture. I think that's horse poo! Whether or not our Creator chooses to be aurally audible, I believe our God is still speaking! I also believe that since our God is a Creator God, one of the best ways to experience our Creator is through the creation.

I believe that God is always pursuing us —our laughter, our tears, our dreams, our fears, our deepest heart. I think we've been led not to truly believe this - but that we have to attain some type of "plateau" before we become acceptable to our Creator.
For God's sake, we were created and we get to accept that we are truly and unconditionally loved, no matter what! The thought that God wants relationship with us simply for who we are seems too good to be true - and so many have used religion as a way to control and "fence-off" God and the intensely relational and interactive conversation we can have moment-by-moment with the supernatural being that created us - not as a whiney child begging a parent for possession after possession, or good weather for a special day, or the betterment of health for a loved one (not that a couple of those things aren't good to ask for and to desire) - But as a friend to walk with, to talk with and share the moments with.
I believe that we were created to love God and to love people. Too much of the time, we let all of the temporal crap get in the way of loving God and loving people - enjoying and feeling gratitude for what we've been given - not in a dutiful, "I'll do it because I should" way, but in a way that is truly un-selfish, grateful and thankful!
God is always looking for ways to say "I Love you"! The correct angle of sunlight - filtered through moisture - glowing perfectly from your perspective, seems like a great way to me!

Thanks for the blog post - it inspired me today.

Rodney
March 5, 2009 @ 1:13 PM
4. Drewbe wrote:: @bryant
There might be an element of truth being a "fence-sitter". As much as I like things in black & white, I must admit that most of the time I really don't know if something is a sign or not. That's why I hesitate so much to take action when someone says "God told me (such and such)". Maybe it's just something that doesn't settle right in the human heart.

@Matt
So is hindsight the judge of supernatural direction? Just curious to know your thoughts.

@Rodney
Thanks for sharing. I often wonder what my sister should think since she always seems to look at the clock when patterns of numbers show up (i.e. 11:11). :)
I guess my article implies the question: does the interpretation fall to the one receiving it or is it bigger than that?
March 5, 2009 @ 3:28 PM
5. Rodney Pritchard wrote:: Hmmm - I think Megan should view the patterns with the knowledge that God is a God of order. And if the clock ever says 7:11, it's time to go get a Slurpee! (Yup, I'm joking).

Seriously... It is my hope that as I am truly, quietly listening while walking with God, I'll be "in tune" enough to hear and understand the meaning of whatever message I feel I've been given - like a "gut" reaction I've felt in the past and continue to feel.

I've come to trust the quiet "inner push" more than I trust others who try to expound on "God's will for my/your life". If I'm in a personal relationship (Divine or human) I want to hear directly from that source. Of course, I've experienced situations where others have been used by God to help open my "eyes", but in tandem, the Holy Spirit helps me with the understanding whether what I've heard is good and true, or if it's not the word for me.

I'm in no way perfectly seasoned in this way of living, but I'm learning and understanding, and it is so good! I've come to trust and discern that the positive, uplifting and good messages and reactions are from the good Divine source, and those messages that are negative, destructive and shame-based are from an evil and obstructive source.

BTW - I think Buffalo Wild Wings is an "evil" source. Ha ha heh heh, hmmmm... ;-)
March 5, 2009 @ 6:20 PM
6. Joshua Hansen wrote:: Your post is very though provoking. While pondering this my mind keeps going back to the idea of the "mystery of God" and how I live with this mystery as it is presented or revealed in nature, scripture, etc. I had to look it up (my memory is not that good) but I did remember Saint Augustine writing, "God is always greater, however much we may have grown." The mystery of God in terms of revelation, then, remains for me a constant, even as I confess that God is also revealed in Jesus Christ crucified and risen.
March 10, 2009 @ 12:39 AM
7. Drewbe wrote:: @Joshua
Thanks for your post. The idea of the "mystery of God" gives some great hope and pleasure while others use it as proof of no god.

...of course, you can't go wrong with Augustine. He always seems to say the right thing, doesn't he?
March 10, 2009 @ 3:36 PM

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