Is the Universe speaking to Me?

Yesterday was a strange day in terms of my perception of coincidences.  I'm not exactly sure where I stand or whether I'm on board one way or the other if the things we experience over a short period of time are "signs" from the Universe.

I do believe, or at least, allow for the belief that God can try to get our attention at times.  How exactly, I'm not positive.  It may be subtle, perhaps it may even be direct, but I'm not sure if the man upstairs uses formulaic sitcom scenarios to make His point.  Then again, who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?  He did create the platypus afterall.

So yesterday it seems as if a lot of stuff I came into contact with, whether deliberate or by random circumstance seemed to pop up into my life yesterday on a cerebral level.

A somewhat famous pastor, Rick Warren, of Saddleback church made this comment yesterday to his congregation as food for thought:

"Incompatibility in marriage is really immaturity and selfishness. Mature people value differences and grow, learning real love."

The comments that followed were very divided, and I for one would find myself in the undecided category.  On the one hand, this makes perfect sense. On the other, I couldn't help but wonder if Rick was referring to me as immature and selfish. 

I've literally read this quote close to a dozen times over the past 18 hours or so, and my gut reaction still is...confusion?  While some people may say I can be immature at times for playing Xbox, reading comics, liking Science Fiction, my trivial rants, and occassionally doing foolish things I also consider myself quite mature.  My bills are paid on time, I'm a responsible member of society, I love my God and attend church, I'm empathetic towards animals and enjoy deep discussions without referring to sophmoric antics.  This may not win me any points in the 'humble' department, but I think I am a geneous person when I can be, often helping others financially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  That doesn't absolve myself of ALL selfishness, but I clearly don't feel selfish at all...especially when it came to my marriage.  I think I was anything BUT selfish in that regard, but I reached a point where despite what God may think of me, I didn't want to be kicked anymore so when my wife left, I drew a line in the sand.  Some would say I waited to long to draw that line to begin with.

Then later yesterday afternoon I came across the following:

I read this and it struck a chord with me.  The second half of this hit me like a sledge hammer between the eyes because it reminded me of my wife like a klaxon alarm going off in my head.  She only paid me attention when she needed something that she could no longer provide for herself.  And it hurt me to read this. It hurt me to let it sink in and understand this.  That this what was being perpetrated upon me.  I even felt a tinge of anger and my own selfishness when I read this outloud..

Then Joel Osteen chimed in with this nugget:

"You don't have to worry. God has promised that if you will remain at rest, He'll make your wrongs right. He'll bring justice into your life."

Was God talking to me yesterday?  Was He trying to tell me that He understands that this whole things seems unjust and unfair to me, but if I give Him half a chance, that He is in control of all things....not me.  Was this His not-so-subtle reminder that He cares for me as well, that I am not forgotten, that I am getting to wrapped up in the trivial and wasting my time fretting for things yet to come and already decided by His will?

So if that wasn't enough, I got a phone listed 'PRIVATE' on my digital display last night at around 7pm.  99% of the time this signifies that my mother is calling so I picked up.

It was not my mother.

In fact it was the last person I would ever suspect.  A Christian person I met and exchanged phones numbers with almost a full year ago and whom I have had no contact with since.  She called me out of the blue...to ask how I was doing and said she had felt a strong urge to call me to counsel me and to pray for me.  I had told her my story a year ago...and here she is...a year later telling me she felt the need to reach out and to pray for me today (last night). 

How does that happen?

I was more in shock than anything.  She sensed during our conversation that I had a lot on my mind....and I pointed out everything I just laid out here: Joel Osteen nugget, Rick Warren's words, an Internet meme about wasting time on un-reciprocated love.

I can't explain any of this.  I was just keeping to myself yesterday adn the Universe came a knockin' at my door.

I'm just sharing this.  Not sure what it means....but maybe for you doubters, perhaps there is a God who does listen and responds to His children when we pause and open ourselves up to listening instead of acting.