the most Beautiful word

Six Degrees of Separation?

The theory of “six degress of separation” is an intriguing one. Essentially, what it suggests is that if you were to draw a map of all inhabitants on our planet, you would see that you are separated by all individuals by only six or less people.

Interesting.

Especially since our world is becoming ‘smaller’ with people getting more interconnected via social networking (not to mention… Facebook!).

In my own life, I’ve noticed that some people tend to cross my paths more than others, while others seem to be connected to me somehow, that even should we lose our way with each other, we will soon cross paths again.

Recently, a shining example came by to remind me of this ‘phenomenon’.

There is this young seminarian in my church, Brother Jude, whom I’ve come to know better in the last year since he was attached to my church as part of his formation towards the priesthood.

I had first encountered him when he came to my parish to share his experiences towards the priesthood, some years ago. There he was, up on the pulpit and I was totally awe-struck by the way he spoke.

Now, because I work with the Catholic Church, meeting with priests and religious is not something new. However, I have to confess, I am not one who seeks them out for a chat. Which is why it’s surprising to me even, when after that Sunday at church, I dropped Brother Jude an email to thank him for his sharing and to affirm him in his calling towards the priesthood. He had spoken with that much conviction and passion.

A couple of years later when I met August, now my husband, I learnt that Jude and he had been in the youth group at Church of St. Francis Xavier, at the same time, with the same people.

How coincidental, I thought.

Then Jude came to my church for this attachment, and he joined the ministry I am in – LANDINGS, a ministry to receive and welcome Catholics who had left the Church and who wish to return, and who might have certain issues they wish to talk through. And so we worked more closely.

Two weeks ago, at a friend’s son’s first birthday party, Jude and I got to talking.

As it turns out, he knew me not only through the Church, and not only through August, but also through a good friend of mine, Shaun, because they were friends at St. Gabriel’s.

After secondary school, Jude had gone on to Anderson JC – the JC I would’ve gone to except I didn’t quite like the environment there.

So there I was, taking all this in and later, I wondered if Jude and I were destined to be friends somehow.

There were so many opportunities for our paths to cross. Not only did we have two mutual friends (August and Shaun), these two mutual friends are people very dear to me and right in the small circle of close friends I have.

And not only was Jude posted to Church of the Holy Spirit where I belong, he became attached to the very ministry I serve in.

And what if I had gone to Anderson JC? Would I have gotten to kow Jude there?

Looking back now, it seems like, even if I had gone to Anderson JC and didn’t get to know him, even if I had not dropped him the email to thank him for his sharing, even if August and Jude had never moved in the same circle at St. Francis Xavier, and even if Shaun had not mentioned me to him, perhaps, in some quirky way, our paths would still have crossed!

So I’m thinking to myself, that some people definitely are separated by less than six degrees. This feels like a minus-one degree of separation actually.

Intriguing and yet, ttoo bad this whole theory is more an urban myth than even a theory!

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