In preparing to write this essay, I elected to first look up the technical meaning of the word “serendipity.” There is always something marvelous to be said about understanding what you are writing about before you start writing about it. In reading the definition of the word, I additionally found this caveat:

“The word has been voted as one of the ten English words that are hardest to translate.”

Of course, this does not mean that the word cannot be defined at least to some degree. The addendum does mean that the word can be hard to explain in many instances, including when one is writing for an international audience as I am through the Istanbul Literature Review. Nonetheless, upon reflection I do think I had aptly entitled this essay.

Perhaps the simplest definition is “serendipity” is also the best:

“The phenomenon of finding agreeable things not sought.”

By extension, I also imagine serendipity can mean the avoiding of disagreeable things not sought.

In pondering serendipity, I also think the commonly used phrase “timing is everything” must also come into play.

In early December of this past year, on a particularly cold day that came complete with freezing rain, I faced an appointment I dreaded in the city center of the metro area in which I reside. Rather than fully brave the storm and drive, I elected to venture downtown via public transport. (My community has an agreeable light rail train system and a disagreeable bus line. This day I was consigned to less desirable bus line because of my destination.)

The meeting ended up running long. The sun started to set, the sleet intensified and I dashed to catch the next departing bus home. Running down the sidewalk, I missed the bus by a matter of a few second – the driver pulling off and away in front of my eyes (and my soaked clothing). A few seconds ...

In time, the next bus arrived and I was off and on my way home. Reaching my destination, I got off the bus with two other passengers. The freezing rain picked up its pace and it was not pleasant walking out of doors. The three of us reached the intersection of a very busy avenue, the walk light being against us. This traffic signal did not deter a young man who had been on the bus with me from running across the street against the traffic.

In a flash, the fellow was hit by a car. Two other cars were bearing down on him as he lay face down on the asphalt, neither driver being able to see him or what happened because it was nightfall and because of the bitter rain. I believe that the other man at the sidewalk with me and I both reacted instinctively. He muttered something and walked away (that conduct being the subject of an essay for another day).

Acting purely without thought (no claim of heroics on my part) I dashed headlong into the traffic myself, waiving my arms in what I hoped would prove to be a successful attempt at preventing the two other oncoming cars from running over the stricken chap. While the approaching motorists likely concluded that I was a raving lunatic of the type that big cities engender, they did stop.

I tried my best to tend to the unconscious man until emergency services arrived (fortunately in very little time). When I did leave the scene, it dawned on me that the end result of what occurred at that intersection that evening would have been very different had I not missed my earlier bus. Again, I do not claim to have done anything heroic as that requires conscious thought of which I exhibited none. I reacted instinctively. Yet, I was in the right place at the right time. Serendipity.

In time did learn that the young guy who was hit by the car was on the mend. A couple of months later, I was heading to another meeting in the city center and was using public transport yet again to reach my destination. True to form, I missed the intended bus and waited for the next one to arrive at the intersection where the accident occurred.

I glanced up while waiting for the bus and caught glimpse of someone cutting across traffic at the intersection. I cringed thinking back on that stormy night of two months earlier. After a beat, I realized that the person walking against traffic was the exact same young man who had been hit by the car doing the exact same thing not 60 days prior. Of course, had I not missed my desired bus, I would not have witnessed this occurrence. I was, once more, in the right place at the right time ... serendipity.

This time he successfully maneuvered the traffic, thankfully. I walked over and introduced myself to the chap and suggested he consider walking when traffic signals permit.

There was a third encounter. I was subpoenaed by the government to testify in the matter of the accident between this errant pedestrian and the driver of the car. (The pedestrian received a citation for violating the law despite his injuries.) I elected again to use public transport, this time to get to the courthouse. While waiting for the bus at the infamous intersection, I caught sight out of the corner of my eye the same young man (who may be incapable of learning a lesson) beginning to cross the street against traffic.

As he started his latest movement against oncoming autos, he saw me and quickly dodged back to the corner to wait for the light. Would he have done something differently if I had not been there? Yes, he would have attempted to cross the street against traffic. Would he have made it across? Who knows.

All of this reminded me of wise words that I heard from a man a few years ago. In 2006, I was on the road and away from home nearly the entire year. At one point I was complaining mightily about my situation. This gentle man (and gentleman) politely pulled me aside and said:

“You know ... while you may be unhappy about not being home, think of this: Perhaps if you were at home right now something very bad would happen to you. Perhaps you would be hit by a bus when you were crossing the street.”

The right place at the right time ... We are all where we are supposed to be at any given moment. We need to appreciate the accidental positive impact we have in the lives of those around us. And we need to understand the ill we avoid through the unexpected winding journeys we find ourselves taking in life.

Serendipity.