Walking in the Rain while volcanoes erupt

I wonder how often people recognize universal response in its' simplest form? You know, you're thinking of buying a certain type of car and suddenly they're all over the place..everywhere you drive or park, there's the very car you're thinking would be a good fit for you. You're given coincidental opportunity to see it on the road, talk with owners in random parking places about their satisfaction with the vehicle. Or, you're prompted into impulse on line at the grocery store. You never needed a travel size window repair kit, but the price is right and you think what the hell, it comes in a nifty little case. You find yourself wondering how on earth the thing works and within a short time, you get an opportunity to find out. Your windshield gets chipped by a passing truck, a friend mentions an unexplainable crack in their window. Before you know it, that impulse purchase now becomes relevant to your daily experience. It happens all the time and I like to think that coincidence is merely the absence of intuitive recognition.



After purchasing the final item for my Camino pilgrimage, a stasher rain jacket, I viewed the the skies opening up and releasing torrents of rain as more than universal whimsy. No joke, Rena and I purchased our stuff away rain coats and the very next day, after a good run of glorious sunshine and spring breezes, clouds rolled in, temperatures dropped and the rain began. We knew we had little choice but to don our new cloaks and head for the hills. Opportunity was knocking with a sledge hammer, giving us just what we asked for. Suffice to say, the jackets have proven themselves well worth their reasonable price of $35.00. Not only do they compact into a palm sized pouch for easy storing, they're nearly weightless, made very well, come in great colors and kept us dry while we wandered for hours on our favorite trails. This morning, we elected to do a quick walk of two hours due to time constraints and I was rather pleased when a slight rain began to fall the moment we stepped on a familiar path.

"Did you hear that the volcano has erupted again in Iceland?" I ask Rena, not to make idle conversation but because our flight to the Camino leaves from Iceland in just about two months.

"Oh. Well then we'll be fine." She says with a level of certainty that catches me mid step.

"You sound pretty certain of that." Truth is, I'm feeling that way myself. Almost relieved that the eruption has happened now, causing all kinds of chaos with flights throughout Europe. I feel like I should be worried yet I know this is some kind of opportunity that I can't quite put my finger on.

"It's just clearing the way for us." She says matter of fact like. "Getting whatever it needs to out of its' system so we won't have any issues."

We walk on in silence a few more paces, our new rain coats swishing in rhythm to each stride.

"Besides," She concludes, "I'll bet looking down over Iceland, after an eruption, as we fly off will be absolutely amazing. Maybe we'll see lava flowing or newly formed landscapes...a once in a lifetime send off to a once in a lifetime journey."

"No coincidences."

We completed the trail and headed home. I am reminded through the echos of our conversation that play on in my mind, how active and amazing the moment is when intuition...recognition or a simple knowing waves its' magical hand from another time space, playfully. There really are no coincidences. No chance meetings. No uncanny purchases. No thoughts unanswered and no accidental volcanic eruptions. Everything is just perfect. Coincidentally, life works, in spite of the absence of intuitive recognition. I smile as I stuff my coat back into its' pouch, thankful for the rain.