In a world that often feels chaotic and random, have you ever paused to wonder if that “chance meeting” or “random phone call” was actually something more?
In her transformative book, “Coincidence or Divine GPS: How to Tell When a Chance Happening is Meaningful,” author Audrey H. Taylor invites readers to look beneath the surface of everyday life. This isn’t just a collection of feel-good stories; it is a guidebook for navigating the soul’s journey through the lens of what Taylor calls our “Divine GPS.”
This comprehensive review and summary explores the intricate map Taylor lays out, helping you distinguish between mere happenstance and a directed message from the universe.
A Letter to My Readers: The Heart of the Book
Taylor begins her work with a deeply personal letter to her readers. She doesn’t position herself as an untouchable guru, but rather as a fellow traveler who started noticing patterns she couldn’t ignore. She addresses the skeptic and the believer alike, acknowledging that while we are taught to value logic, our hearts often whisper a different truth.
My Mission
Taylor’s mission is clear: to validate the reader’s intuition. She aims to provide a framework where people can stop dismissing their “gut feelings” as imagination and start seeing them as data points in a larger spiritual narrative. Her goal is to move the reader from a state of “accidental living” to “intentional awareness.”
How My Divine GPS Works
The central metaphor of the book is the Divine GPS. Just as a satellite navigation system uses multiple signals to pinpoint your location and guide you to a destination, Taylor argues that the Divine uses people, signs, timing, and even numbers to steer us.
- Recalculating: When we make a “wrong” turn, the Divine GPS doesn’t quit; it reroutes us.
- The Destination: Sometimes we don’t know where we are going, but the GPS does.
Why Read This Book?
In an age of digital distraction, we have lost the art of “seeing.” Taylor suggests that reading this book is an exercise in spiritual re-sensitization. By the end of it, you won’t just see a red light; you might see a much-needed moment of pause.
The Right Place at the Right Time: The Power of Location
Taylor explores how our physical geography often intersects with our spiritual destiny.
The College Connection
She recounts stories from college, a time of high transition. These chapters illustrate how being in a specific dorm or choosing a specific major wasn’t just an academic choice, but a placement by the Divine to meet the people who would shape the next forty years of life.
Unexpected Messages
Have you ever walked past a stranger and overheard exactly the sentence you needed to hear? Taylor breaks down these “audio coincidences,” explaining that the Divine often uses “unwitting messengers” to deliver clarity when we are too clouded by our own thoughts to find it.
Money: Paying for the Dream
One of the most practical sections of the book deals with the “Divine Treasury.”
- Paying for the Dream: Taylor shares anecdotes of “just-in-time” financial miracles—checks arriving in the mail the day a bill is due, or a scholarship appearing from an obscure source. She argues that when you are on the right path, the universe often provides the “gas money” for the journey.
- Tragedy Meets the Spirit: This is a poignant look at how financial or personal loss often clears the ground for a spiritual breakthrough. Taylor handles the topic of tragedy with grace, showing that even in “no” or “not now,” there is a guiding hand.
Things Dropped in Your Lap
Sometimes, guidance isn’t a subtle nudge; it’s an undeniable gift.
The Soulmate and the Non-Existent Job
Taylor describes the “Soulmate” phenomenon not as a fairy tale, but as a series of improbable alignments. Similarly, the “Non-Existent Job” story highlights a career path that opened up through a role that wasn’t even advertised—a position created specifically because of a “chance” encounter.
The Brick
Not all Divine GPS moments are gentle. “The Brick” represents those life events that hit us hard—a job loss, a health scare, or a sudden ending. Taylor explains that sometimes the Divine has to “throw a brick” at us to get us to change a direction that was leading toward a dead end.
Intuition: An Unsolved Mystery
Taylor delves into the “inner” signal of the GPS.
- Victoria’s Secret: Through a humorous yet insightful anecdote involving the famous retailer, Taylor illustrates how intuition can manifest in the most mundane places, guiding our choices in ways that seem silly until the “why” is revealed later.
- Books or Printed Matter: This is a fascinating look at “Bible Roulette”—the act of opening a book to a random page and finding the exact answer needed. She also discusses the “Jar of Notes,” a practice of recording these moments to build a “reservoir of faith” for darker times.
People: The Human Elements of the GPS
Taylor categorizes the people we meet into three distinct groups:
- For a Reason
- The Old Man and the Camper: A story of a brief encounter that provided a life-saving piece of advice.
- The Man in the Big White Cowboy Hat: A figure who appeared at a literal crossroads to offer direction.
- The Boy with the Shovel: A reminder that help often comes in small, unassuming packages.
- For a Lifetime
- The Stoic College Professor: This chapter explores how some people are placed in our lives to be “anchors,” providing wisdom that unfolds over decades rather than minutes.
- Momentary Meetings
- A Cyberspace Adoption: How the internet acts as a modern-day conduit for Divine connection.
- Make Me Look Good & The Sugar Dispenser: These stories highlight the “humor” of the Divine, using small, almost invisible interactions to shift our mood or perspective.
Street Signs: Literal and Metaphorical
Can a literal street sign be a message? Taylor says yes. In “A Question Answered,” she describes a moment of deep prayer followed by seeing a billboard that addressed her specific worry. The story of “The Huge Check” serves as a metaphor for the abundance that is available to us if we only have the “eyes to see” the signs pointing toward it.
Timing: The Fourth Dimension of Guidance
Timing is perhaps the most difficult part of the Divine GPS to trust.
- A Beautiful Death: Taylor tackles the heavy subject of passing, showing how the timing of a loved one’s departure often contains a “final gift” of peace or closure for those left behind.
- The Lawyer, the Grandma, and the Phone Call: A series of interwoven stories where a delay in one area led to a miracle in another.
- The Icy Prison and On the River: These stories illustrate the concept of “Divine Delay.” Being stuck (in ice or on a river) feels like a failure until you realize what you were being protected from by not moving forward.
The Deceased or Angels: Whispers from the Other Side
Taylor explores the more “mystical” side of coincidences.
- God and the Subway Sandwich: A lighthearted but profound look at how the Divine cares about our smallest needs (even hunger!).
- Fear in the Forest: A chilling but ultimately comforting story of protection in the wilderness.
- Who Licked Wendy’s Ice Cream?: A playful look at the “mischievous” side of spiritual signs, suggesting that our departed loved ones often keep their sense of humor.
Numbers: The Mathematical Language of the Divine
For those who see repeating digits, Taylor offers the “Dad Number.” She explains how specific number sequences became a “code” between her and her late father, proving that love and guidance transcend the physical veil. She encourages readers to find their own “signature numbers” that serve as a “ping” from the Divine GPS.
Consecutive Coincidences: The “Clumping” Effect
Sometimes, coincidences don’t come alone; they come in clusters.
- A Day of Mini-Miracles: A breakdown of how one small “yes” to intuition can lead to a domino effect of positive outcomes.
- A Frightening Christmas Season: How the Divine uses the “pressure cooker” of holiday stress to reveal deep truths about family and forgiveness.
Epilogue: The Birth of the Book
The final section of the book is a “meta-commentary” on the book itself. Taylor reveals the Coincidences that Birthed this Book.
On the Freeway
The idea for the book didn’t come in a quiet library; it came in the middle of a traffic jam. Taylor describes the “download” of information that occurred when she was forced to be still.
The Puzzle Pieces
Taylor describes the creation of the book as assembling a puzzle:
- Puzzle Piece #1: The Group: Finding the right community of supporters.
- Puzzle Piece #2: The Dream: A literal dream that provided the book’s structure.
- Puzzle Piece #3: The Letter: A final piece of correspondence that confirmed she was on the right track.
The Puzzle Comes Together: Taylor reflects on how her own life had to become the “test case” for the Divine GPS before she could write about it for others.
What Message Does the Author Want to Convey?
At its core, “Coincidence or Divine GPS” is a call to spiritual wakefulness.
Audrey H. Taylor wants readers to understand that we are never truly alone or unguided. The primary message is that the universe is “user-friendly.” Whether you call it God, the Universe, or a Higher Power, there is a force that is actively communicating with us.
Key Takeaways:
- Awareness is the First Step: The Divine GPS is always on, but we have to “turn on the screen” by paying attention.
- Trust the Rerouting: If a door closes, it’s not a rejection; it’s a redirection.
- The Small Matters: God is in the “Subway sandwich” and the “sugar dispenser” just as much as He is in the big life events.
- Connection is Constant: Through numbers, people, and “printed matter,” the conversation between the human and the Divine is ongoing.
Final Review: Is It Worth the Read?
“Coincidence or Divine GPS” stands out in the crowded spiritual memoir genre because of its practicality. Taylor doesn’t just tell stories; she teaches you how to categorize and interpret your own experiences.
The writing is conversational, warm, and often funny. It feels like sitting down for coffee with a wise aunt who has seen it all and wants to make sure you don’t miss the magic in your own life. If you have ever felt like “there are no accidents,” this book will provide the vocabulary and the validation you’ve been looking for.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- If you are at a crossroads and need to know how to “hear” your next step.
- If you are grieving and looking for signs that your loved ones are still near.
- If you simply want to live a more “enchanted” life where every day holds the potential for a miracle.
An Invitation to My Readers
In her closing, Taylor offers an invitation: Start your own “GPS Log.” Write down the small things. The “chance” meeting at the grocery store. The song that played on the radio right when you thought of an old friend. As you do, the map of your own life will begin to glow with a purpose you never noticed before.
Acknowledgements
Taylor concludes by thanking the “Messengers” in her life—the old men, the stoic professors, and even the “brick throwers”—who helped her find her way.
FAQs
Q1. Is this book religious?
No. It’s spiritual but inclusive.
Q2. Can skeptics enjoy it?
Absolutely. It respects logic.
Q3. Is it based on real experiences?
Yes, all stories are personal.
Q4. Does it teach how to interpret signs?
It teaches awareness, not superstition.
Q5. Who should read this book?
Anyone who feels life is trying to communicate.