Surprise, surprise, not everyone considers synchronicity like I do, which I can find irritating on a weary day, and curious-invitation on a rested day.
What soul posture seems to value synchronicity, even seek its contributions to meaning in a day, a life, of faith? What is the soul posture of one not interested at all? Can a receptive, curious soul posture be taught? Is one a better strategy than another? Hmmm....
I have spent over eight weeks this semester with a small, 50%-white, all-male class in interreligious/intercultural learning. I would say one student is quite interested in synchronicities in faith, one is curious in a cautious way, and two are not remotely interested in synchronicities around or within them. Only that which aligns with their reading of Scripture can be considered holy food for thought in faith, and human being is nothing except fallen.
When the semester began, my refrain-question followed close behind me: WHY am I still at United? Few of the students that come into my class are remotely interested in the subject matter--it is a course required by denominational bodies, so already suspect, if not outright faithless in their eyes. Even fewer of them are (originally) willing to listen to a woman lead in these things, though of course most would never say so to my face. By the time they arrive, completing the pre-req's, they've learned enough to get along to move along.
"Open-hearted surrender to the sovereignty of Godde" is the phrase that seemed a good 'middle way' for the learning purposes. (And this semester was the first syllabus that used that spelling, yes!) Those who value synchronicity seem to focus on the first half--open-heartedness, surrender. There is a willingness for the More of Godde that allows a living faith to breathe. Those who value synchronicity less--or not at all--feel something they need with the sovereignty of God (for them). What is that, exactly? It differs each semester, with each student. For some it's fear, which even to admit in their local circles would be condemned as faithlessness. For others, it's anger, unresolved grief that has little home or opportunity for resolution in today's congregational bodies. Either way, those completely disinterested in synchronicity are bound up in prisons of their own making, or of the making of their communities. Always hurts my heart, on rested days. Angers me, on weary ones.
My preliminary conclusions, after 6-7 years of teaching this course? A receptive-curious soul posture cannot be taught, at least by me. But synchronicity after synchronicity can unfold if students are required to move their bodies in wisdom practices of others, if just for 3-4 days. So THAT's what we do, all semester.
None of us has wisdom for another, after all, but strangely, we get to participate in holding spaces for the More to speak on its own, if we're patient. And a curious-receptive soul posture IS a gentler one in this world. Even the most pragmatic conservative has awoken to that on this journey, blessedly...his story, for another time.