Interesting story It’s wild the way it can happen. Too bad he passed away before you could speak to him.

Here is a synchronicity story from my past.

In 1996 I attended a meditation workshop hosted by a man who had studied native american spirituality and meditation. The workshop was interesting and gave me some interesting ideas that helped me out with relaxation and meditating.

Jump forward three years, I’m sitting in a college writing course and for some reason the workshop instructor’s image pops into my head. I recall some of the things he said during the workshop and think to myself “I wonder what he’s up to now” and I try to remember his name. His name escaped me and I filed it away in the back of my head.

After class I’m leaving the building and I see an older gentleman walking the same direction (away from the building) as me about 30 feet in front of me. He stops, for no obvious reason, turns, and waits for me to approach before striking up a conversation with me.

He started with basic small talk, how are you, fine day, blah blah. Then he says “My name is Jon O’Brien, I work in the library and if you need anything let me know.”

Then it hit me – THIS was the guy who taught the meditation workshop. It was a little weird for me so I decided to ask if he taught a meditation workshop at the university a few years before. Sure enough, he did so I told him that I was just trying to remember his name during class. He laughed and said something like “when the student is ready, the teacher appears. I’m not sure which one of us is the student, but here’s my card.”

I went home, told my roommate and other friends about it and everyone thought I was full of baloney. I was busy with a full class load, work and social engagements so I didn’t get a chance to contact Mr. O’Brien. About six to twelve months later I found out he had passed away of a heart attack.