Synchronicity 2

I've written about this before: http://jldodd78.blogspot.com/2013/08/synchronicity.html. Now, in my mindful evolution, I know Cthulhu is a widely-recognized, iconic beastie. As soon as I became aware of him, I saw him everywhere because he is everywhere. But recently, I experienced another, if much more poignant, example of synchronicity.

A close friend's daughter passed away last week. I've been heartbroken as a friend, as a parent, as a person. I dreaded the visit to her home on Friday, but I had to see her. Upon entering, there was a table set up with candles, flowers, cards, and pictures. I was immediately drawn to a large, framed pencil drawing of her face. It was exceptional work. Mikaela was a beautiful girl, and I can honestly say I have never seen a pencil drawing capture reality in such a way. I looked for a signature, but didn't see one, so I asked who the artist was. My friend didn't know. Someone had given it to her daughter over a year ago, and she had given it to her parents. But there was a signature hidden at the bottom: "BDodd."

*chills*

I have a cousin, a first-cousin, mind you (most people in small towns like mine are "cousins" on some level), currently living in Alaska, who is an artist. I don't keep in touch with him, but I remembered my mother telling me that he did amazing pencil work. I immediately felt that the drawing, which held some kind of intangible power, must be his work. Hours later, with the help of my sister-in-law, I found it on his Instagram. The story of how the drawing came into existence was a bit convoluted, but it seems that my cousin, who at one time lived here and still has friends here, saw a photograph of Mikaela (someone completely unknown to him) online and felt compelled to draw it. He then gave it to a friend, who delivered it to her as a gift.

https://instagram.com/p/BIo6JO8BXvp/

What significance can we ascribe to this unlikely coincidence? My logical mind insists that humans instinctively look for connections, grasping at straws to find a deeper importance in everyday randomness.

My heart, and by heart I mean the emotional part of my mind, wants to believe something more. I want to believe that this is a "meaningful coincidence." Her spirit, or the collective unconscious, or the universe, as some say, has willfully given us this connection to comfort those left behind. To give us some sense that we are not simply adrift in this life; that there is something greater beyond death.

I don't know what I believe, but I know what I want to believe. Screw you, logic.

J. L. Dodd