Synchronicity: God's Alignment by Sharon Espeseth

Synchronicities in the Bible

Joseph with His Jealous Brothers

Was it pure luck that Joseph, after being thrown in a pit by his brothers, ended up in Egyptian courts? That's where his brothers found him years later during a famine. Joseph, in charge of supplies, offered food to his family. His brothers, expecting retaliation, had been fearful upon meeting Joseph.

Acknowledging God had put him there, Joseph allayed their fears. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
(Genesis 50:19-20)

The Old Testament is filled with stories of people who were at the right place at the right time in order to carry out God's plan.

Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Without Cell Phones

In the days before his crucifixion, Christ organized his final days. Before his ride through Jerusalem, Jesus needed a donkey. He sent two disciples to the next village with instructions about where to find a donkey and her colt. "Untie them and bring them to me," Jesus said. "If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." (Matthew 21:2-3)

With arrangements for his last supper with his disciples, Jesus didn't call ahead to book the upper room. He told his disciples to go to the city and look for a man carrying a jug of water. They were to follow him until he entered a house and then approach him saying, "The Teacher asks: 'Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there." (Luke 22:11-12)

Throughout all of history and again today, God aligns things for us. Even when we are reaping the consequences of our mistakes, God orchestrates situations to our benefit. As Christians, " . . . We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Roman 8:28)


What Is Synchronicity?

There are many definitions and discussions about synchronicity on the Internet, but finding something sound and succinct isn't easy. One blogger said that synchronicity is a concept one cannot understand by hearing about it. One needs to see it for oneself. Synchronicity must be "caught instead of taught."

Carl Jung, the early 20th century psychoanalyst was the first to coin the term synchronicity as "a phenomenon that occurs when two seemingly unrelated events occur close to one another, and the person experiencing the events interprets this correlation as meaningful." I believe he also referred to synchronicity as "meaningful coincidences."

I found some answers at https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-coincidence.html,
including the following etymology of the word "coincidence."


The word coincidence is translated from the Greek word synkyrian, which is a combination of two words: sun and kurios. Sun means “together with,” and kurious means “supreme in authority.” So a biblical definition of coincidence would be “what occurs together by God’s providential arrangement of circumstances.”


Is this where Jung got the word, "synchronous" and thus "synchronicity?"

Synchronicity and Me

Looking back, I recognize, and am thankful for, many synchronous times and events, but I will restrict my telling.

1. June 1: Sandi Somers listed The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron as a resource. Located book at
home. Began reading.

2. June 8: Identified with author's ideas on "blocked creative." Started writing Morning Pages.

3. June 25: Started Week One, Day One. Expectations: Write Morning Pages, 3 per day. Plan and carry out 1 2-hour, solitary Artist's Date per week. Written Check-In at week's end. Do not read Morning Pages. (Put in envelope or don't go back in notebook.)

Cameron provides Exercises and Tasks. To do the program effectively, participants should do Exercises and some of Tasks.

4. June 22: Check-In for Week Three and every week thereafter asks,

"Did you experience any synchronicity this week? What was it?" 

Began looking for synchronicity. Recording pleasant, unexpected happenings, plans that unfolded like a river going downstream.

5. Observations as weeks progress: More synchronicity. More abundant flow in my life. Increased awareness of synchronous happenings. More writing. Getting more done.

Morning Pages become increasingly more spiritual experience. Written prayers and Bible quotations
pop into my head. More frequently offer worries, complaints and needs to God. Ask God for wisdom for myself and others. Less fixing. Learning to let go and let God. Morning Pages more devotional.

6. Keeping up with program. Repeated two weeks when I didn't cover enough ground.

7. Surprised to discover this month's blog theme of "Synchronicity."

8. Week 9: Surprise! One of Tasks is re-reading Morning Pages. Coloured markers in hand, I  Take Stock, Take Heart, and Acknowledge.
Acknowledge synchronicity and how it blessed my life.

*Bible texts are in The New International Bible.

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