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I was gone this weekend and want to share. Here goes: I had planned a trip up to my mountainous hometown with my two sons (10 and 7) for a “father/son” outing since we missed our wards’ version. A hard drive with important data died at work and delayed my picking up my sons to leave by about 10-15 minutes. The thought crossed my mind, especially with all the faith/philosophy discussion here, that maybe this slight delay was for a reason. So, it was already in my mind.
Sure enough, about an hour into our trip we get passed by a law enforcement vehicle going very, very fast, sirens blaring. We come up on a horrific crash on the other side of the expressway that had partly spilled over to our side. Civilians were directing traffic as there were only a few law enforcement personnel there and no ambulance yet. The line of cars stuck behind the crash was pretty long and my best guess is that it had happened about 10-15 minutes before we passed.
Obviously, if I hadn’t had the previous thought/premonition, the whole thing would have meant nothing (probably). I decided to share this with my boys, as we don’t get alot of first-hand opportunities for philosophical meaning-of-life discussions. I asked them “What do people call this kind of experience”. Ten-year old immediately says, “LUCKY!” Now that’s faith.
😆 We went through the possibilities, the “universe”, “Jesus”, “coincidence”, and, luckily, they didn’t need a definitive “right” answer.That made me feel good and it also made me realize that I’m in much the same place. I know in my mind, I believe strongly in a karmic, “universe” type concept. I do good things, and the universe takes care of me.
But, I don’t know really. And, I’m ok with that. And my boys are too.
Is that faith-promoting?
I always wonder about these types of experiences. My brain says, “LUCKY!!” My heart says, “I don’t know. Maybe.” I have come to the conclusion that it’s important to keep all answers open as possibilities – that closing my mind even to a degree from the chance that something is “lovely, virtuous, or of good report or prasieworthy” and not “seek(ing) after these things” is not a path I want to pursue. Therefore, I like the discussion with your boys – talking of lots of possibilities.
When these things happen, I always thank God. Even if He had nothing to do with it, I know that my gratitude is a good thing. And harms no one. HiJolly
This reminds me of an experience I had. I was heading off to Salt Lake city when I was reminded that I hadn’t prayed for safety. So, I prayed for safety. I had this impression to slow down and move to the slow lane. It wasn’t but one minute later that I had a flat tire. Crazy! I like to think that it was the spirit speaking to me.
I guess I like to think I am being look after and my time to go is known.
I think it’s awesome that you were all able to leave it as an open-ended question. That’s the most honest approach for me. I do think too often as humans we tend to look for meaning in the natural randomness of life. Probability theory has shown remarkable apt in describing physical phenomena, and things happen that are not within 3 standard deviations of the mean (they just happen much less frequently). But that doesn’t make them miraculous, or God-inspired or anything. Having said that, it is certainly possible, and in any case, we are all glad you’re here sharing with us still!
Swimordie wrote….. I asked them “What do people call this kind of experience”. Ten-year old immediately says, “LUCKY!” Now that’s faith. We went through the possibilities, the “universe”, “Jesus”, “coincidence”, and, luckily, they didn’t need a definitive “right” answer. That made me feel good and it also made me realize that I’m in much the same place. I know in my mind, I believe strongly in a karmic, “universe” type concept. I do good things, and the universe takes care of me.
But, I don’t know really. And, I’m ok with that. And my boys are too.
Is that faith-promoting?
Over the years I have read a few accounts of people who died and came back to tell about it. The people they met on the other side seemed to know pretty much what was going to happen throughout their life. Maybe fifty years from now when you pay a visit to the next world you will be able to find out.
In situations in my life, I kind send a prayer thought up and ask “was that you?” Sometimes I feel it was a coincidence. Other times I feel “warmer” about the experience and my first thought is that God was working. I am with HiJolly on this one. I feel the gratitude goes to God for so much in our lives that we don’t ever see. I just had this experience……nothing like the OP but I was driving my van (older and paid for/cosmetically challenged/but still a lot of life left) and thinking about how next year would be a good year to replace it. The next day I was driving again and had the most overwhelming feeling that the van wasn’t mine anymore…that it had served its purpose for our family….and that I needed to give it our neighbors right away. I told my husband that night about my random feeling guessing that he would say, “that’s nice” but let’s wait til next year. But instead he said he got the same random feeling. Come to find out our neighbors had lost their job and had a brand new baby and were trying to stuff their large family into a hatchback. We, of course, sold them the car for an incredibly low price. But the reason I share this is that it truly was not our gift to our friends. It was God taking and giving. And when they thanked us….I really felt the thanks was misplaced. I think we were just along for the ride.
So is the OP faith promoting? Why not.
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