Serendipity is defined according to dictionary.com as: an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
Serendipity–to me–is the leadership of the Holy Spirit and it’s no accident! Recently I had one of those events many would describe as ‘serendipity’ but I know it was God leading and directing me into His will for my life!
Early in August of this year, I got the September issue of The Herb Companion, a magazine I enjoy as I am trying to learn about growing and using fresh herbs. That particular issue had an article on “Alternatives to Antibiotics” that fascinated me as well one entitled “Guide to Essential Oils”. After reading those two articles, I went to Amazon to investigate these topics a bit further and ‘stumbled upon’ (serendipity? or Holy Spirit?) the book, Healing Oils of the Bible by David Stewart, Ph.D.
I immediately ordered it that very day. And not only did I order it, I ordered two other books that Amazon showed ‘often purchased together’. One was The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple: God’s Love Manifest in Molecules also by Dr. Stewart and one was Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol Truman. I spent $63 on books that day–this is not my normal behavior…especially on 2 authors I didn’t know!
Why did I do that? Well, if I look at it logically, here’s why:
1. I’d never been satisfied when I questioned others about ‘anointing with oil’ as to what oil was used in Bible times. The usual answer I got was ‘olive oil’ and I never felt that was the ‘right answer’. So to see a book entitled Healing Oils of the Bible intrigued me.
2. The chemistry book is a little harder to understand as I look back. After all, it is an 850 page book and I’ve never had a chemistry course in my life…not in high school or college. (I’m not sure how I managed that but I did.)
So why did I buy it? I can only say when I saw the subtitle, “God’s Love Manifest in Molecules” my heart said ‘you need this book!’
3. And why did I buy the third book. Well, no question there….the title fascinated me!
So all of this can be explained logically. But I now know it was not my own thinking that caused me to buy those 3 books that day….it was God’s directing me in His sovereignty!
Why do I say that? Because those 3 books sparked something in me. After I read Dr. Stewart’s Healing Oils of the Bible, I felt something rising up in me I can honestly say I’ve never felt before….a true and real passion for an area of study.
You see, all my life I’ve realized I had many interests but no real passion for a particular subject. (This has nothing to do with my passion for the Lord by the way.) But so many people just KNOW what they want to be ‘when they grow up’ and I never did. I wasn’t particularly gifted in any specific area of study….just kind of all around average in my likes and abilities.
But this book ‘lit a fire in me’ and I am continuing to intensely study in the area of ‘Biblical oils’ as well as ‘essential oils’. In fact, I’ve already begun working toward becoming a ‘certified instructor’ through C.A.R.E. which is the Center for Aromatherapy Research and Education.
An interesting tidbit…all 3 of the books I ordered are ‘required’ reading for this certification! Was the Lord going before me?? And no, I’ve not finished the 850 page chemistry book but I am over ½ way through it! Dr. Stewart does make it simple to understand, but with no background of any kind, I’m taking it very slow!
I’m really being stretched through these studies….after all, I used to think ‘aromatherapists’ were ‘kooks’ and/or ‘New Age gurus’ (in my arrogant and judgmental, non-understanding-of-grace days!). But quite frankly, I’m tired of Christians sitting back and letting the enemy steal what God meant for our good, and I believe that is what has happened in this field. So I’m going to be a ‘born again, Bible believing, Holy Spirit led’ aromatherapist! To quote Dr. Stewart as to healing, “…the Biblical application of essential oils was always with prayer. Sometimes prayer alone will work and sometimes oils alone will work, but the combination is very powerful, indeed.”
Serendipity? Or God?
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