Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7

Ron Elkins had resolved, in a moment of introspection, to avoid his computer altogether. “Wasting too much time on the web,” he concluded. But in July 1997, in a coffeehouse that had four terminals hooked up to America Online, the computer beckoned. Ron missed his friend Dave, who had committed suicide, and longed to find someone online who had known Dave, and understood why he would kill himself. Ron logged on to one of the computers and went searching for any “buddies online” with whom he had chatted in the past. He pulled up a name, pored over the profile, and noted that it read: “Friend of Bill W.” Here he stopped.

Ron knew that “Bill W.” was the founder of “AA” – Alcoholics Anonymous, the recovery organization. He also knew that Dave had been a member of AA. Maybe this anonymous guy, who was online right now, by some slim chance, knew his friend. “Did you know ‘BIDASK DAVE’ (Dave’s user name), otherwise known as Dave V?” Ron asked. “I knew Dave very well,” came the reply. Ron was shocked that out of millions of people online, he found someone by chance who did indeed know Dave. “May I ask you another question?” he typed. And then there was no reply. A minute later, a stranger approached him and asked: “How did you know Dave?” Ron had just sent an “instant message” to the guy using the computer at the other end of the same coffeehouse!

The stranger said: “I know you, you know me, and I know your wife.” Ron was dumbfounded. “You know me? You know my wife?” he repeated. “Yes, I know your wife Diane very well.” The man revealed that he was Mark, a childhood friend of Ron’s wife, a friend who shared much of her history. He had been one of the few intimates whom Diane had invited to their wedding, but who hadn’t shown up. It was inexcusable!

Now, fifteen years later, Ron was in the coffeehouse, companionably sharing drinks with the very man who had hurt his wife so badly. The next morning, Ron recounted to his wife the odd coincidence that had brought him to her old friend and explained the circumstances that had kept Mark from attending the wedding. Three weeks later, they all met for dinner. When Diane and Mark saw each other after twenty years’ time, they both burst into tears, simultaneously.

It was the right time for them to meet once again, and the friendship had picked up right where it left off.

Ronald Elkins

Comment:
Time, space and synchronicity are all virtual realities in God’s plan. The incredible story of how Ron connected with Dave, and how Dave re-connected with Diane, only goes to show that our lives are more entwined than we imagine. Only God, in His time, and in His way, can mend broken lives.

Fr. Hugh Duffy