Coincidence?
September 6th, 2006 | by Chris Gidman |I’ve just described how I feel about the death of Steve Irwin. It was a freakish and undeserved event. Like local news, there always seems to be a related story.
A few weeks ago, my son and I went to John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. Entrance was free and we had a great time looking at the wildlife. Most of it was curled up on nice cool rocks to stay out of the heat. But, it was still fun. Then, we found the stingray pool. For a buck each, we would be allowed to touch them. We paid and played. It took some coaxing, but finally CJ reached in and touched the slimy skin of these fearful things.
The staff assured us that their stingers had been removed and there was no possible way they could harm us. (I wonder what they are saying now.) We stayed and pet them for a good 15 or 20 minutes. It was a wonderful experience. It was bonding time for father and son. We neither one had ever done that. It was kind of like petting a slimy dog, only a little more exciting.
Also, in the past three weeks, I have started listening to some training courses by Dave Ramsey. He teaches people how to have financial peace. At any rate, at around the 2nd or 3rd CD, Ramsey uses Steve Irwin as an object lesson. I think it went something like, “If you play their game your gonna get killed. One of these days, that crocodile guy is going to get it. I hope it doesn’t happen right after this seminar or I’m gonna have to go back and edit that out.” Well, it didn’t happen right after that, but it did happen right after I heard it.
So, in the last month, I have have had two events cemented into my historical memory by the death of Steve Irwin. Was I psychic? Was the world twisting in some pseudo-scientific way such that it culminated in this freakish accident that happened to the Crocodile Hunter? Perhaps the world flexes itself every now and again and the ripple causes correlated events.
I’m not saying that’s what happened. {Right Todd?} I’m just throwing out half-baked speculations. Anyway, I gotta wonder if this is coincidental events discovered after-the-fact brought on by a subconscious desire to preserve continuity, or is something really bizarre going on? I mean, suppose I hadn’t had those two events happen? Would I have discovered two other events in my past that were related? Would I have made a big deal of two things that even now I can’t recall?
It won’t prove anything, but I’m really curious to know if others have had a similar experience culminating in some surprising and freakish event. Or, have you specifically had similar experiences related to Mr. Irwin’s untimely demise?
Enquiring minds want to know.
3 Responses to “Coincidence?”
By Steven on Sep 6, 2006 | Reply
For quite some time, I have had an intermittently reoccurring dream in which I witness a plane crash. It is always a large plane and always involves a cityscape. It never seems to coincide with a well-published crash or any other significant event that would make it seem more than a dream, let alone a coincidence. Nevertheless, whenever I see a plane flying low I pause and watch, expecting-even guiltily HOPING for- it to crash down, plummeting into a distant high-rise in hazy slow-motion. I’ve had this dream long before 9/11 and a number of times since.
On the other hand, I’ve absconded with Murhpy’s particular paradigm, as it often seems the entire universe is working against me. Mayo’s Law is perhaps the ironic opposite of what Chris is looking for, but the more it happens to me, the more I can’t help believing in it….
By Chris Gidman on Sep 7, 2006 | Reply
That paranoia is likely spawned by egoism bordering on megalomania. You frequent the proper website. You believe you are important enough that the universe is out to get you.
Of course, if we delve into some bizarre form of existentialist nihilism, perhaps you are completely right. You are the only one that really exists in the universe. Everything else is your perception. You are the god of the universe. And, yes, we are out to get you. But, it’s all your doing. And, maybe you can’t change that!
So, I have to ask the obvious question. Sure, you’re paranoid about the universe. But, are you paranoid enough?
Is it paranoia if they really are out to get you?
C
By Steven on Sep 7, 2006 | Reply
I think I am the farthest from Egoist that one can possibly be. (My wife would say otherwise, but that’s a point of contention) At least consciously, I certinaly don’t think of myself as very important at all.
It’s more akin to Karma, I think. Poor decisions, non-decisions, selfish (selfIST) youth, self-dishonesty, unvoiced pride in being humble, etc…. result in bad sub-optimal positions in life, apathy in work, anxiety, and general disatisfaction.
It’s all come back ’round.
And yes, my PC at home decides to wait till I get on it to freeze and crash. It’s got nothing to do with the fact that I waited till the last minute, didn’t save the work, and haven’t cleaned up the OS in 2 years.