In An Instant

I'm an extremely strong advocate for the Butterfly Effect. Which is a silly thing to advocate for, because in reality it is not only present but unavoidable. Causality is the ultimate trip: action begets result, but those results are not always predictable. For someone who spends the greater part of his life searching for patterns in the fabric of reality, you have to imagine that I am surprised to... be surprised.

Persephone came out of the woodwork like a butterfly floating through a field of gray. I sat among the rotting memories and sober conclusions of solitude for what seemed like an eternity (two years). I wouldn't say I was totally without hope. I hoped for the future. I hoped for peace. But I never expected this.

I would tell you the story of how we met and connected in its entirety, but that's less intriguing than the process, at least for the purposes of this blog entry. I'll just elaborate on where it starts. I barely knew her to start, but Persephone was going through some rough shit. I mean, of course, heartache, confusion, etc. Things I'm well acquainted with. So Persephone makes a facebook (is there a TM sign I can insert here?) post with awesome lyrics from a Paramore song I was unfamiliar with at the time. Naturally, I asked her to identify the band/song. She does. Then I ask her how she's doing. She asks me if I'm free for coffee.

Hold the phone. A pretty lady asks me if I'm free for coffee? This guy? Well, naturally I'm attracted to fair Persephone, but I understand she's been through a lot. I'm also tired as hell. I had promised myself that I would take care of myself first. But you know what? One last hoorah for the common good. More than likely, I was just going to be messing with my emotions by trying to help someone I'm attracted to. But it seems like she could use it, and she definitely trusted me enough to meet me early in the morning, by herself. I am a safe harbor. Maybe I can make her feel better somehow. So I decided to go. I didn't know it at the time, but romance was calling.

On this simple choice hinged what true believers refer to as Destiny. The Plan.

While it may be such, I know with certainty that it is at least the Butterfly Effect. I could've said no. I could've changed the date of said meeting. But hell, why not now? My choice beget a whole series of results, further choices, further actions. It was like being in a dungeon maze, opening a door you passed by at one time and never opened before, and finding that it led outside, a version of outside you never believed existed. An outside you felt but never saw.

I set foot in that coffee shop and I haven't looked back since. I'm not just in love, I'm loved back. I'm cared for. I'm understood. I'm trusted. I'm listened to. I have a partner in crime (or justice). I have someone to laugh with and someone that gets me.

Is there something spiritual about the Butterfly Effect? Does it lead us where we are supposed to go? Or is causality simply impartial?

I'm not sure. But here I am reaping the rewards of a universe where minor actions make major life changes.