Coincidences Within Circumstances

"COINCIDENCES" WITHIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

All our lives are full of "coincidences" and "what if" moments that
changed the course and destination of our journeys. Had you not been in
a certain place at a certain time, you would not be where you are today.  

I am about to tell you an insignificant short story about what happened
last week and the chain of "coincidences" that led to something that may
start another chain of "coincidences" with possible impact on the
future.
Last year I made a speech at a July 4th Tea Party. About three weeks
ago my friend Dr, Bob Lowe received an announcement from the Heritage
Foundation that they were looking for stories that could confirm that
the concept of the Founding Fathers' "We hold these Truths to be
self-evident..." is still very much alive and working in this nation.
Bob believed that my speech was such evidence and urged me to send it to
the Foundation. I wasn't sure that my story would be of interest, but I
did submit it and Bob's conviction was correct. They liked what I had to
say and decided to include me in the filming of a documentary. Matthew
Spalding Ph.D. wrote a book about the Truths still being alive and the
producer of the documentary, Mike Edwards, a multiple Emmy winner,
arrived to our little community of 260 people, to film my segment of
about three minutes. A string of "coincidences" however, may have
changed his plans.
Impressed by our hard-to-imagine rural location, Mike decided to film
segments of Matthew Spaldings' interview in our area. On Monday while
looking at historic sites where the Spalding interview could take place,
I asked Mike if he would not mind if I went by the local Tractor Supply
store for some supplies.
On our way we drove through downtown La Grange and found a gathering of
World War II veterans in uniforms around the historic Courthouse
bedecked with hundreds of flags. It was a Flag Day celebration. Most of
those veterans were even older than I and Mike and cameraman Chris
filmed the entire Flag Day celebration; incredible and irreplaceable
footage. Perhaps the last such formation for the 19 veterans. Ed
Janecka, the County Judge invited us to see the inside of the
courthouse, but we did not want to disturb the ceremonies any further
and left.
Mike needed two locations to film the interview with the author, Matthew
Spalding. A location signifying the Rule of Law and one to represent
Freedom of Religion. Capitalizing on the invitation by Judge Janecka, we
asked and received permission to film the interview in his historic
courtroom. We then tried to locate a church that had hand carved
interiors and sufficient light for a recording session. After looking at
several beautiful country churches, we found that most were too dark for
filming.
Our daughter-in-law Laurie suggested that we look at a little historic
church in Ellinger, Texas. My wife reminded me that friends of ours, the
Janaks, attend St. Mary's Church. Before considering other locations, we
decided to see this small church. Unfortunately the church was locked.
I noticed a handyman working in the adjacent cemetery. After I got his
attention over the noisy weed-eater, he told me that the church was
closed and we needed to go to Fayetteville where the church office is
located to get permission to go inside. He also pointed out that it was
too late for that because the church office closes at 4 PM and it was
already 4:30 PM. I mentioned to him that Larry and Betty Jean Janak
were our friends who attend this church. His face lit up and he
proclaimed that the Janaks were his neighbors and promptly produced a
key and let us in the church.
It was the ideal location. The interior was hand carved and the light
was just right. We now needed approval, but it was close to 5PM. I
declared that since they had only 36 hours left in our area, we should
proceed to the church office in the hope of finding someone who could OK
the use of the church. By "coincidence" the church secretary was still
there and she introduced us to the priest. Approval was granted. The
recording at the Courthouse and at St. Mary's Church was accomplished
and the documentary will be soon seen on TV, and cable and distributed
by the Heritage Foundation.
This is a small and insignificant demonstration that perhaps there are
no "coincidences". When you reach my age you finally understand that
life is not predetermined by fate, and to survive you must adjust to
circumstances and understand those circumstances, yet our lives are also
a chain of "small world" stories and "coincidences." So when something
unexpected happens, accept those "coincidences" and let them become part
of your "circumstances." Accept them without the necessity to fully
understand them.  

Written by T. W. “Tibby” Weston