Interestingly enough, yesterday I found in my email inbox an email from an automobile service station I used to use. The message line read: Your Car Is Due For A Service. I looked at it and thought, “Yes, it is. I’m long overdue for an oil change.” I didn’t even open the email, though; I didn’t even notice that it wasn’t from the service station I typically use now.

Last night I parked my car at the high school so my daughter could drive it home. She called me about 15 minutes later to tell me it wouldn’t start. Sure enough, it wouldn’t. The battery would have been the most common problem, but all the lights were working in the car. (And if it had been the battery, I would have figured that I was out of energy…using it all up by doing too much. I needed a recharge.) Instead, after along wait for AAA, we discovered that it was what I suspected, the starter motor.

Ah, the car couldn’t start at all. What did that mean for me? I couldn’t get going. Like a racehorse at the starting line, I wasn’t getting out of the gate. I couldn’t move forward. Why?

I’m looking at my day today (as my car is in the shop and I’m stuck at home) and I see that I have not gotten to the most important things I need to do to get  going–to start the most important projects. I’m not taking the next step to achieve my goals. I haven’t devoted the time to them. I’m leaving them to last instead of putting them first. I’m doing all the ancillary things I think will get me there but I’m not tackling the big ones.

And maybe I have fear…fear of moving forward, fear of getting started. How about you? Does fear ever stop you from getting started or moving on to the next phase of what you need to do?

The service station called a little while ago. I have a very old car with lots of miles on it; they said the bolts holding the engine down need replacing as well. Plus the steering shaft needed some work.

Interesting. I’ve been working away at this same goal for a long time…so long that, like my car’s engine, I need to re-bolt it down again, firm up my commitment to achieving it, tighten up the foundational elements that will ensure that all the foundational parts stay with me as I move forward. If the “engine” drops out, I won’t get very far.

And, I’ve recently been trying to change my direction a bit, to hone my final destination and figure our how to navigate to that end point. No wonder the steering shaft on my car needed work!

About 15 years ago my car’s brakes were recalled. Despite the dealer looking at them and telling me they were fine, they went out on me. As I coasted safely to a stop (thank God), I thought about why I would have brake problems. It dawned on me that I was rushing headlong through my life with no ability to stop. Hmmm. A message from my car.

Today, I’m taking note of the messages from my car (and in my email inbox). I suggest you do, too! Learning to see, hear and understand the messages we receive daily helps us achieve our highest human potential. This skill allows us to change; it’s a tool for personal growth.  So, when life seems to send you events or circumstances that appear negative or troublesome, don’t just dismiss them. Look at them carefully; learn to see them clearly as messages–synchronistic messages offering you a means to change, grow, achieve, and live more fully.

If Queen Esther found herself in that castle at just the right time to save the Jews, could it be that I am here in this particular place at this particular moment to do something spectacular as well? Or will I discover one day that God has led me through a sequence of events so I arrive at a specific place at a specific time so I can do something unique and special, such as fulfill my life’s purpose or create positive change in the world or in other people’s lives?

And what happens if I deviate from the course? What if I miss the signals and end up somewhere else?

The story of Purim is all about synchronicity and God’s hand working in people’s lives. Thus, it gives me hope and renews my faith that synchronicity can occur in my own and that I, too, will find God’s hand leading me to the right place at the right time.

However, we have to allow ourselves to see the signs, feel the signals, sense what direction to take so that we can arrive in the intended place. Many of us ignore these signs or simply don’t see, hear, smell, taste, or feel them. We don’t use our five–or six–senses to help us get directions from God or from our souls (or Higher Selves).

Someone recently told me that I would get messages constantly if I only meditated every day. She said I didn’t even need to do this for long periods of time…just for 10 or 15 minutes each morning. Doing so would inform my whole day.

Anyone can do that–even me. The practice of meditating even for short periods opens up the senses and allows us to use them like a compass–like a spiritual GPS system. We can tap into our intuition. We can hear the Still Small Voice.

This week, try meditating every morning for a little while for the express purpose of getting messages about where you are supposed to be and what you are supposed to be doing. Allow your senses to guide you.Stop. Look. Listen. Feel. Maybe, like Esther, you’ll find yourself in the right place at the right time.

Like Esther, also be prepared to act courageously–to have a bit of chutzpah. Don’t let the moment pass you by.

Great question! Here’s the answer, which involves asking some more questions.

You discover our soul’s purpose by answering these questions:

What gifts do you have?

What are you good at?

What do you feel drawn to do?

What types of things interest you?

How do you best help people?

In what situation do you feel most equipped to add value?

What things do you do that make your heart sing–that bring you joy, raise your energy or give you deep satisfaction.

To what activities are you drawn over and over again with no real explanation?

Do you see your life constantly leading you to certain activities, situations, occupations, careers, etc.?

If you look back at your personal history, can you find patterns that show you how God’s hand has been pushing you gently in a certain direction?

By answering these types of questions honestly, you will “learn” your soul’s purpose. In your answers you will discover the truth about what you are meant to do in this lifetime.

And, indeed, that truth will set you free…free to realize your full potential, to live the life you were meant to live and to live a life “on” purpose and “of” purpose. In the process, you will connect with your true self–your soul–and with God, for your soul is eternally connected to the Source of All.

A few weeks ago I noticed that a psychic and medium I happen to know personally as doing readings at a local metaphysical store. I felt inclined to get a reading, but I hesitated. In fact, I didn’t get one. So, yesterday I went back to see her. When I asked her how I could open to my intuition, she told me to meditate.

While I spoke with this women, she not only encouraged me to pursue some of the newest ideas I have concerning my work, she said she was interested in working with me as an editor and writing coach. I said I’d like to have her help me move to a higher level with my intuitive/psychic ability. She said, “Great!” A client and a spiritual coach all in one. Wow.

This morning I meditated. I got some really clear messaged during the meditation, which I wrote down.

This evening I decided to wait for my daughter in a coffee shop. As I sat down, I saw a woman behind me making crystal jewelry…real pieces of art. I adore crystal jewelry. I spoke to her, and before I knew it I had agreed to have her make me a piece. In the process, she offered me a “reading”–information from her intuition. And the crystal she used to create my pendant was chosen for my by her young daughter, who has a special gift for choosing crystals and is a healers. Who would have thought I would get a reading and crystal jewelry in my favorite coffee shop. Wow.

Recently, one of my best friends told me someone called him and asked him to teach a Kabbalah class at a yoga center in my town. I told him I’d attend. He told me I wouldn’t be attending; I’d be helping him teach. Turns out the same woman who made my crystal pendant was the woman who called him. She saw his card, and it spoke to her. She had it in her coat pocket for several months before she felt compelled to call him this past week. Then I met her this evening and told her I’d be teaching with him. Wow.

It’s amazing what happens when you open to your intuition…everything from knowing when to purchase tampons (really!) to knowing when to mention your son dances to a man who has a daughter who sings and might want to make a video (Yes, that happened today, too.) to having your daughter speak to someone who knows exactly what to say to her and what she needs to hear (This also happened.).

The thing is, you have to listen to what you hear , pay attention to what you feel, do what you feel compelled to do…not matter what. You will then know if your intuition truly provides you with a guide. I had enough proof today to make me keep meditating, remain open and keep following my intuition.

When I was in my late mid-20s, I had a job working in New York City. My boss knew I liked horses and offered to send me to a work-related seminar in Arizona that was being held at a dude ranch. He figured I’d enjoy a chance to go horseback riding. There I hit it off with both the workshop leaders. One of them offered me a job in Oklahoma.  My friends and family thought I was crazy to take it. I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I felt claustrophobic and relished the idea of wide open spaces. Not only did I make some great friends there, I met my husband as well. And I learned some skills I was able to use in later jobs. The job only lasted a year. My marriage has lasted 20.

A few years ago, I got involved training horses. I’ve always loved horses, and I’ve ridden most of my life. I always thought I wanted to be a horse trainer, and I began doing just that. However, I discovered that working with horses as a business was much different than doing it for pleasure. And an investment I made in saving a race horse from slaughter then went south. I purchased him to train and resell, and had him sold, but before I could get him out the door he got sick and never totally recovered. I had to put him down and ended up heartbroken and in debt.

For a long time I wondered why that had happened to me. That experience made me look at the fact that during that period of time I had strayed from my true purpose in life-writing and helping people through my writing-almost totally. So, I left the horses behind and turned to writing and pursuing my dream of becoming a published author almost full time. (I know one day I’ll ride again simply for pleasure.) If my venture into the horse business had been successful, I might not be where I am today with my writing career.

More recently, I had the task of finding a sublet in New York City for seven weeks. My son will be attending a summer dance intensive there, and he and I need somewhere to live while I chaperone him. I looked at quite a few apartments via the Internet, trying  to find the best deal we could. I found a lovely lady with a studio in the Village, but it was still a bit pricey. I kept looking for something cheaper as I negotiated with her, but I soon found that the cheaper ones worried me; they felt like they might be scams. I had visions of wiring money and then arriving in New York only to discover my son and I had nowhere to live. I was desperate to just find some place to stay that I could afford; the apartment hunting was stressful and time consuming.

All the while, this woman with the Village studio and I kept conversing via email, and I kept feeling that I should stay in her apartment. She was reputable; I could even find her on LinkedIn. So, I agreed to wire her the money. Since then, she and I have started to become friends. She’s read some of my writing and perused the store on my website. I’ve listened to her music and listened to an account of a spiritual experience she had. We both agree we feel as if my son and I were meant to stay in her home and that she and I are destined to become friends.

Just last month I spent about four weeks in a trial period for an online writing job. This came at an inopportune time, and I found it stressful even though I really wanted the job. I thought it would be a decent income and good exposure for me as a writer. However, I had a few doubts about whether the pay would be worth the money. I struggled through the trial period only to be told I had not been chosen for the job. I shrugged my shoulders and thought, “It’s probably for the best. And who knows what else will come along.”

Well, that same day an old friend contacted me via email. He wanted me to write about his new venture in my Examiner.com column. When I read his press release, I got excited. I replied to his email asking if there were anyway I might get involved. The answer was a resounding, “Yes.” And I’m now involved with his project. While this project may not necessarily involve writing per se, it allows me a whole new platform from which to work and it allows me to serve others in a whole new way…a much bigger and more effective way than I could have with the other business opportunity.  And, I get to do this with a friend.

I could give you more examples, but I’d rather hear yours. Do you believe things happen for a reason, and can you relate some examples that prove this to be true? How does it make you feel? Can you feel God’s hand in your life? Leave me a comment, and let me know.

Have you ever wondered why you ended up in a certain place at a certain time? You’re there and suddenly something amazing happens. You go somewhere or do something, and some synchronistic event occurs.

Did you ever look back over your life and think, “Wow, if I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be here now. And If Iweren’t here now, I would have missed this opportunity or experience.” In other words, your life experiences and choices and events brought you to a moment in time when everything from the past simply fell into place to create something new and perfect–almost as if someone had choreographed the events.

Someone recently told me a story about a man working on a screenplay about a musician. He went to lunch somewhere and who should walk in but that musician. He asked to sit down at the man’s table and told him about his project. The musician loved the idea and not is not only helping in any way he can to make the project a reality but he has become good friends with the screenplay writer.  What brought them both together on that day at that time?

In the Purim story, what brought Esther, otherwise known as Hadassah (her Hebrew name), into the life of King Ahasuerus at just the time when she could use her influence as his queen to save her people, the Jews, from destruction? What brought her cousin, Mordechai, to the castle gates just when he could overhear a plot to kill the king?

Is it just coincidence that these things happen? I think not. I think that God’s hand is at work in our lives all the time. On Purim, we can see exactly how this works by studying the story we recount on this holiday. The rest of the time, we must search for signs of God’s hand…small synchronicities, little miracles, odd happenings, a sense of being in the right place at the right time, events falling together as if by magic.  Or maybe we have to step back and take a good long look at our lives and see how God’s hand has gently directed us to this place and this time.

If God has a hand in our lives, does that mean we have no say over what happens? Again, I think not. I see God as the Ultimate Director, who has co-authored the screenplay of our lives in conjunction with us. He/She then allows us to act out our part and to improvise as much as we like. We can even rewrite the part as we go along, but the end cannot be changed. We may not get to the end as quickly as the original script had planned, or we might get there more quickly…it all depends on how we act our our role and the choices we make while we do so. (Remember, we were all given free will, the ability to make choices.) In this way, we and God co-create the whole production. But like a good director, when our lives need a little help or direction, a strong hand comes to our aid.

We may not always see that support or assistance. When things feel and look tough, we may think God’s hand is actually absent from our lives. However, God may actually be directing us through that tough time to get to something on the other side. With hindsight, we might understand why we had to go through that experience to get to the place we now find ourselves.  While in it, we have to have faith and trust that we are still following the script and the director is still watching.

Knowing that God has a hand in my life gives me great comfort. While for some, the idea that some of life is “preordained” is unsettling, to say the least, I like knowing that God and I came up with a plan prior to me entering this physical body. And I like knowing that even though I sometimes feel alone as I move through my life, even though I sometimes feel like I’m wandering lost and without a map, God knows where I’m going and reaches out to make sure I’m heading in the right direction. At these times,  I think of God’s hand like  a life navigation system. I like knowing someone has a compass when I don’t, and that someone is steering the ship when I can’t or don’t know how or don’t know which way to turn.

Yes, God’s hand is in our lives everyday. On Purim I’m reminded of that fact.