Me, Andrew Peterson, And A Really Big Coincidence

So, yesterday we hosted onboard an event for the many missionaries serving in Liberia, and after the event they came to visit the book store. I was really excited that we were offering such an event and equally excited to have a chance to meet them, but something happened that I totally did not expect. I was working at the information desk, and was approached by a young man with a strong Scottish accent who asked if I could search the computer to find a certain singer. I replied, “No, our system can't do that, but who are you looking for? Maybe I know who he is . . .” He said, "Um, his name is Andrew Peterson." I about fell over. Not everyone has the good fortune to be acquainted with his music, and out of 400-some people on the ship, he just so happened to ask me! Andrew Peterson has been my favorite singer for several years; so much of his music has been deeply meaningful to me through many different times of my life.

I was really sad to have to tell him that we didn't have any Andrew Peterson cds in the book store, but I couldn't help but think of all of the music that I had brought with me on my computer. I knew he couldn't just get it somewhere else – certainly not in a store in Liberia, and even amenities like internet are quite limited here. Ten minutes after he walked away, I was totally distracted; it was really driving me crazy that this missionary in Liberia had asked me for something very specific that I just so happened to own. And I've learned that really big coincidences usually aren't - but I couldn't figure out what that meant for me in that case. I really wanted to just give the music to him, but the problem was that God has been very strict with me recently about copyright infringement issues, so I couldn't just make a copy for him . . . finally it occurred to me that if I just paid the appropriate money a different way, I could give him the music, AP could have his fair earnings, and I wouldn't be stealing! I ran to my cabin, hurriedly put Resurrection Letters and Far Country on my USB stick, and was able to give it to him before he left – along with a prayer that he would be as blessed by them as I have been. I was super excited about it for the whole day!! :-D

Of all the far-fetched things in the world . . .

gotta love it. :-D