Dear Kelly,

What a fun wondering! I am like you, I am certain meant-to-be moments happen, and I am certain they happen for everyone. But the key is to notice them. To notice them and to not brush them off as “mere coincidence.”

I think meant-to-be moments show up in many forms — through circumstances, through people, through nature, etc. Through people, the meant-to-be moments show up when your heart meets another’s and you just know you are meant to be in each other’s lives. Meant-to-be moments show up in circumstances. How many times have you heard people say, “Wow, I was in the right place at the right time”? This is so true. We often do experience the feeling of “right place, right time” as a meant-to-be moment. But I often wonder how much of the before that moment we also notice or consider?

Meant-to-be moments are often very intertwined with many other meant-to-be moments, but maybe not all moments give the grand effect feeling. I had an ordinary experience that put some of this together for me. I drive my kids to school every day. One morning that started like any other morning, we got into the car to leave. I spilled my coffee all over, so we left mere moments later than planned. I picked up the mug and decided I would clean it thoroughly later. As we were driving, a deer ran in front of my car and I missed it by moments.

As we continued on our way, my daughter said, “Spilling your coffee must have ruined your morning.” I’m not sure if I was crabby, but very likely without my coffee, I was. I almost agreed with her, but realized in that moment that, “No, spilling my coffee did not ruin my day, in fact it was likely meant-to-be! You see, I didn’t hit the deer, which, given moments sooner, I most certainly would have!” Also, I would not have been gifted the opportunity to talk with my kids about noticing the meant-to-be moments (even the ordinary ones) in their lives. I have also experienced grand meant-to-be moments, but this seemingly ordinary experience was also heart changing. I believe that the noticing and appreciation of meant-to-be moments, big and small, may actually enhance our awareness that we are meant to be. We are meant to be a part of this beautiful, messy, amazing, grand world.

Those moments, (like the spilled coffee/missing the deer moments) encourage me to reflect daily on the many moments of that day, so I can see the interwoven meant-to-be moments that weave my days together.

Thank you, Kelly, for participating in this wonderous space. You are appreciated, and sparking readers to notice their meant-to-be moments today.

YOUR