Timing is everything.
On our way to the big city of Charlottetown for a night on the town (dinner at Mavor’s and then a movie), we crossed the Montague River bridge at sunset. The light was just…perfect. There was no discussing it; we had to stop and take pictures. I veered the car off the road and pulled over, while Cameron groveled around in the backseat for the camera, in its makeshift purple Crown Royal camera bag.
We walked up to the bridge just in time to snap four pictures before the sun dropped down behind the trees–right in front of our eyes. The sky turned dark in what seemed like a second.
Timing is everything. A minute or two later and we’d never have seen the most glorious Montague River moment that I’ve ever experienced.
It got me thinking. How much of life is just chance, luck, timing? Fate? Destiny? A higher power? Randomness?
How much of our lives do we have to thank–or curse–because of timing? “If I’d only turned right instead of left” or “If I hadn’t ran into Sally” or “if I hadn’t taken that job” or what if, what if, what if.
What if Cameron’s parents and my parents hadn’t lived in the same city, which caused us to meet? Both of our lives would be completely different.
What if Cameron and I hadn’t moved to PEI, but moved to New Brunswick instead? Imagine all the people we would never have met! The places we’d never have seen!
Everything would be different. We’d be different people. I believe that all the tiny experiences that we go through and witness mold us into who we are. One tiny choice sets off a chain reaction of different experiences, choices, and results.
The mind boggles.
How do you make sense of this stuff?
I don’t think we need to make sense of it. Our heads would explode if we tried. I think it all just works out how it should in the end.
I LOVE the photograph, by the way. Timing is everything…
What a wonderful post.
You could read “ONE” by Richard Bach, if you haven’t already!
:-)
Yes, how do you make sense of it all?
When I have thought on those things that boggles my mind, I simply acknowledge that it was and is set in motion by the Creator of all things and I marvel at the wonder of it all. It doesn’t bother me one iota if others scoff at my beliefs. I know where I’ve been and I know what has come of it. Pafooey on the big bang theory.
I recall driving home one cloudless evening when the moon was full and right ahead of the direction in which I was driving. I was suddenly awed by it – it’s not like I haven’t looked up at the moon. This was different; it was most profound. There it was – this big, veined ball suspended in space piercing the darkness with it’s glow. Then my thoughts went to the stars, the rising and setting of the sun, the seasons and I couldn’t contain it all. It was a moment, for sure. (I would hope we all have them.)
… and, Laura-Jane, if you moved to New Brunswick instead of PEI, you would have met other wonderful people! :o)
Truly, timing is…
We have so much of it and think we waste so much, but is it so?
Is it a waste to spend time seeing a sunset, having dinner & a movie versus working ‘a bit more’ on a project?
Is it a good use of time just to stop and think, to gather our wits or to jot down a few thoughts for our own reflection that others may also reflect upon?
One small change in a thought or action – like in the film Sliding Doors – might be enough to take us in another direction.
Somehow, I feel that both of you were meant to meet each other and to become beautiful partners in work and life and in observing sunsets.
Hi L-J
What beautiful pictures!
A favorite quote of mine is:
“Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all” wise King Salomon Ecl 9:11.
I love that quote because I am not a believer in predestination.
If we take the time to contemplate seven billion, with a b (give or take) human beings weaving their threads of life on any given minute on this earth. Being born, living, working, playing, suffering and dying. Like dust on the mantle or dew on a flower. Like a morning mist we are and then we are no more. It may seem impossible to find answers to our questions.
Wise King Soloman also concluded at Ecl 12:13
“The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.”
As a God fearing (healthy fear) human that believes in creation and a resurrection into a new heavens and a new earth, I enjoy the peace of knowing that there is a time for everything.
Ref: Ecl 3:1-8
“For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under the heavens: Â a time for birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted; Â a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to wail and a time to skip about; Â a time to throw stones away and a time to bring stones together; a time to embrace and a time to keep away from embracing; Â a time to seek and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; Â a time to rip apart and a time to sew together; a time to keep quiet and a time to speak; Â a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.”
I was brought up in a family that believed in God and observed his word the Bible with deep respect.
Today I still try to love God and love my neighbor just like many other fellow Islanders do.
2Ti 3:16 says (apostle Paul)
“All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness”
The point of my comment is that although there are the questions that we all ask from time to time like “how do you make sense of this stuff?” Many of the satisfying answers that we seek may be found within the pages of our very own family bible.
Check out Heb chapter 11 for “Faith” or 1 Cor 13: 4-8 for “Love”.
Happy reading,
Smiles :o)
Gary
Gary, that was so beautifully written.
With regards to ‘predestination’, I find the thought of it so bizarre for we have been given the gift of a free will, to choose which way we’ll go in all matters of life, each and every day yet God knows our beginnings to our ends. When I think on it, I do like Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With The Wind) “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”
I don’t try to make sense of stuff like that. You are absolutely right that it sets the course of our lives sometimes…the little things but for every missed opportunity, there was a gained one also and vice versa. It’s fun to ponder every now and then, but gosh, too much to dwell on!
Wow – I’m from Hamilton, ON. and there was an article about you in our local newpaper. I just spent the last 3 hours reading your entire blog. Amazing! You should publish your blog as a book. Thanks for a great read!
Jennie, what is the name of the local paper in Hamilton, Ont? I would be interested in reading it as I know Cam & Laura-Jane would too.
Laura-Jane- the Hamilton paper is the Hamilton Spectator and your article was wonderful. My husband and I dream of moving to PEI and so I shared the article with him (we are much older than both of you- mid and late 40’s). Interestingly or insightfully my 10year old and 17 year old commiserated as they often do about their parents dream to pack up ‘their home,’ and movve to PEI. On this occasions, my youngest son responded to his brother, “don’t worry they are just all talk.”
I certainly hope not!
Wow, the Hamilton Spectator! Crazy… I am amazed that there are PEI and Maritime dreamers all over the country… Although, I shouldn’t be surprised I guess… :)
Very beautiful L.J.
As you were saying about timing is everything. I got reading this blog and started reflecting back a few years..I was 9 years old and was living in Newfoundland.(where I was born) My dad came here to P.E.I to work on my sister’s tobacco farm for the summer. At the end of March he died in a house fire trying to save my sister. As he freed her from the house the porch had collapsed on him taking his life.
For months after my sister was bed ridden in the local hospital here in Montague. She had 80% of her body burnt.
I was able to come here to visit her with my mother and was able to take her youngest son back home with us for a year.
Upon her release from the hospital her husband had purchased a farm several miles away from the original one. For the next few years, my mom and I would visit during my summer holidays from school. They had lived there for a number of years then moved to Nova Scotia for a number of years and then back to the Island.
As for me I would eventually move here in my late twenties due to work. Six years had past and I began working at a certain place where I met my beautiful wife. It wasn’t till I met her parents that started to make me think about what you had posted..Timing is everything.
As luck would have it, the very house that my sister bought after the fire was actually my wive’s parents house. As well every summer I had stayed there I always slept in the same room. As it turns out it was the same room my wive had slept in without me knowing until the day I met her parents.
It was some 25 years later that I met my beautiful wife on the anniversary of my dad’s passing and it wasn’t until late that summer that I had found out the story about the room I had slept in so many years ago.
I now have three beautiful girls and I’m still very much in love with my beautiful wife.
As you were saying, what if we didn’t take that turn, what if My dad hadn’t come here, what if I didn’t take that job….I guess sometimes things do happen for a reason. As for me it somehow brought life back. It gave me memories of the father I had, the person i became, and even better the family I now have..
Each day that passes by always brings a smile to my face. I always appreciate the beauty in life. I never pass a single thing without seeing the beauty in it. Never do I fret about the small things because there isn’t enough time for that. Life will go on no matter what. Smell the flowers, see the beauty in the sunset, enjoy each others company but sometimes enjoy the alone time as well.
I know that I have kind of blabbed a little to much but that’s just me. LOL . Timing is everything for every reason.
Yours truly Robert Benoit
Robert, that is an amazing story. That is tragic about your father and sister. And how sort of cosmic and mystical about your wife and having slept in the same room all those years before… From having known you I can attest that you have an amazingly positive outlook. I like your quote, “Timing is everything for a reason.” I agree. Amazing story and I’m so glad you shared it.