First man walking on the moon. Photo: Nasa, Creative Commons
Have you had the experience of a ‘chance’ meeting changing the course of your life? When a person unexpectedly enters your life, it may prove to be a lasting, wonderfully enriching connection that opens doors to life-opportunities.
Murray Smith
Equally, a chance encounter can turn out to be something you end up regretting. Forging wonderful, enduring connections with people you have met by ‘chance’ contrasts starkly with one where you rue the fact your paths ever crossed – where you’ve been left feeling gutted, as if something had been stolen from you.
It’s important to see these circumstances as an opportunity for personal growth… what we do with situations that leave us feeling stripped, let down, used and hurt deep inside by broken promises or whatever the situation entailed, cannot be left ‘on the boil’. Getting beyond the place of resentment is important.
I’m thankful for many ‘chance’ encounters that have led to long-term friendships which have been a blessing and stood the test of time. I’ve also struggled through messy connections with people who entered my life who I thought at first were going to be a blessing yet that was not the case.
I was once introduced ‘by chance’ to a reputedly to be a wealthy businessman. Mutual connections had suggested we should ‘catch up’. What impressed me most, prior to meeting him, was his ‘reputation’ for being a person of integrity.
Some things about him resonated… others not so much. He professed to have a solid Christian faith even quoting Bible verses that meant something to me.
This person’s agenda in wanting to meet, soon became evident. He was looking for investors in a venture he was preparing to launch. While I did not have large funding reserves, having recently sold my home and trusting the advice of others, I got involved. Telling me his project was a ‘no brainer’ and I was privileged to be ‘invited to the table’, he stated if it failed to deliver everything promised, he would personally ‘front up’ as guarantor, making good any losses.
Short story… the project and the man’s professions turned to custard. That was a hugely disappointing setback for me. I went through a range of destructive emotions before eventually coming to a place of ‘letting it go’…. being able to forgive brought freedom.
My advice would always be careful in ‘chance’ connections. Build slowly in what you give yourself to. Time reveals things about who we ‘walk with’ in life.
‘Walking with God’, in relationship with Him and embracing truth and the light is so important for keeping on the right pathway in life. An Apollo 15 astronaut, James Irwin once said, “God walking on the earth, is more important than man walking on the moon.”
He’s right. God seeks relationship with us. In hindsight, I recognise that through years of God ‘walking’ with me, He has faithfully guided, giving clear ‘warning signs’. By listening properly in that situation, I’d have avoided leaving things ‘to chance’…
James Irwin on the Moon saluting the flag during the Apollo 15 mission. Photo: Astronaut David R. Scott, Apollo 15, Nasa, Creative Commons
