Breadcrumbs from the Universe

Photo: Petr Kratchovil

My parents have a magnet on their refrigerator that reads: "Coincidence. When God performs a miracle but remains anonymous."

IDW, the close cousin of this concept is Breadcrumbs from the Universe. As in, God the Universe . . . which is how I usually think about God because somehow the Divine starts to feel big enough and expansive enough and fathomless enough when linked to quantum physics and the cosmos. The bearded white man in a sheet that we see in cartoons and children's books has never worked for me. For me it's God. The Universe. The Infinite. A presence so sacred and powerful that for centuries it was agreed that there could be no word for it. (And I hope my Uncle Dennis will correct me if I'm wrong about that last, but I do believe it's true.)

And that concludes my theological discourse for the day. I think. Unless, you know, I need to reference it again while I explain the whole Breadcrumb thing.

Breadcrumbs from the Universe are those shimmering moments that tell you that, however unlikely it may seem, you are on your path, exactly where you are meant to be. They may be grand or subtle, but when they happen, it's almost as though your entire body is a tuning fork and you are suddenly vibrating with pitch-perfect sound. (Okay, okay. I'm willing to accept that never -- not once -- have you thought of your body as a tuning fork. But work with me a little here! You DO know what I'm talking about!)

Those moments when you feel reassured that, big as the Universe is, the Divine has time for YOU, that YOU are part of the Plan, are Breadcrumbs moments. Sometimes they're small and humorous. Other times, they're so improbable they boggle your mind. But always they reassure you of your own place in the Grand Scheme.

I believe Love is the purpose and reason of our existence. We come from, exist with, and return to a loving source that is beyond our human comprehension, and our mission is to learn to love one another and to love ourselves. And although very few of us nail even one of those, let alone both, God (the Universe) goes right on loving us and spreading little bits of nourishment on our paths to keep us on course and lead us home.

So the next time you're 5000 miles from home and run into your best friend from kindergarten? Or sit on a plane next to someone who knew your grandmother? Or get a check in the mail that exactly covers the thing you had no idea how you'd pay? Or hear a song on the radio whose lyrics seem to be coming straight from heaven to you? That's right. Breadcrumbs from the Universe. You're right where you're meant to be. And you're on your way home.