coincidence, synchronicity, providence?

i took a 20 minute walk through kubota garden on monday morning. i was pondering the content for a talk for “theology on tap” that i would give that evening. the talk was entitled, “why is mary a big deal?” as i walked down the path, i prayed the hail mary prayer to myself.

i turned off the path to one of my favorite spots– a dark grove of trees. most people do not go underneath these low hanging set of trees– even i have to duck! as i walked a few steps through the tree trunks, i saw this:

what was a one decade rosary doing hanging there? i looked closer at it– it was a st benedict medaled rosary. who put it there? how long had it been there?

what was happening?!?!

i paused not knowing what to do next. should i pick up the rosary and take it with me? pray it? leave it? i decided to take the photo of the rosary and leave it there for the next person. they might need it more than i do!

was this brief experience just a coincidence? was it synchronicity? was it God’s providential grace for the moment? i walked away and just gave God thanks for the experience.

the main idea/gift for my talk was: mary advances jesus’ love for us today. she is an instrument of the Holy Spirit and brings us reminds us of the gifts of faith and the kingdom of God: peace, justice, healing, reconciliation, wonder and awe, joy, strength, wisdom, beauty, mystery, hope and more– all aspects of jesus’ love for us and the world.

the seemingly random rosary hanging on a tree was a touch of jesus’ love from mary to me in the now moment. coincidence or synchronicity, no. a graced moment of providence, yes.

thank you mary for your loving actions in the world that remind us who we are and in whose love we live and move and have our being.

may your gaze on this random rosary be a blessing for you today!