Serendipity

By Gwen Kokes

In my experience, people have had many opinions on “chance” and serendipitous moments. Some say chance and serendipity can be predicted in formulaic patterns; some say serendipity is unpredictable (those people tend to advise not to “leave things up to chance”); some maintain that serendipity is God working in intended, planned ways, while others say serendipity is God showing the world just how chaotic yet purposeful the world can be. And some say serendipity is that cheesy 2000s rom-com featuring John Cusack. I’m not sure where I fall yet, but I do feel that God has weaved serendipitous moments into my life recently.

I got started with Episcopal Service Corps by applying to a job which directed me to the program. It was explained to me that the position I received was made possible by ESC providing the housing, food, and a stipend for me. I was a bit confused, but after speaking with Reverend Jan and previous ESC-ers I figured, “Seems cool! I’ll do it.” However, the workplace position did not work out, but I was supported by the people of ESC—they were not just my sustenance of food and shelter but my sustenance for moving forward. ESC—Jan, my housemates, the network of ESC—provided the support I needed to get back on my feet, try new things, meet new people, and start a new job. After being interviewed at a few different places and feeling completely at a loss of where my life was going to go next, my fellow Gilead, Jordan, put in a good word for me (like the thoughtful person he is) at his workplace, and next thing I knew, I was at Atwater’s talking to Jan and Jordan’s supervisor, Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, and experiencing the immense spiritual insight of a Reverend and a Rabbi—both amazing women—guiding me from emptiness to an exciting future of service. Upon reflection, I realize I wasn’t experiencing emptiness at all—although I felt lonely and confused and nervous about what was to come during my unemployed-but-still-with-ESC time, I was surrounded by an amazing support group of my friends, family, and the people of Baltimore—trying to carve out space for me in this amazing city. Hours after I met with Nina and Jan, Nina found the funding to hire me onto The Baltimore Orchard Project (BOP), where the journey of serendipitous moments continues.

I quickly learned some of the ins and outs of BOP, an organization that strengthens communities by planting orchards with them, educating people to be long-term stewards, and sharing the harvest with neighbors. My first project was to implement the first BOP edible rain garden at the Jubilee Arts center, and I quickly became familiar with fruit and nut trees (which I’m still learning about), orchards, communities, and more. As I was explaining my new job to my mom, she said that her dad was the fruit tree guy of Baltimore. My Pop-pop owned Greenfields Nursery (on Falls Road) and planted a lot of the old trees I still see in the city today. Pop-pop passed away when I was young, and I’ve always been proud to say that he ran Greenfields. My mom inherited his green thumb, something that doesn’t always come so easily to me yet I’ve been attempting to learn from. Now I finally feel that I’m doing the work my mom has tried to teach me about all of these years—work that my Pop-pop would be proud of.

Graduating—like for most people—was bittersweet. I didn’t realize I would miss learning, especially research, so much. But with BOP, I learn something incredible every day, and I am teaching a Towson University class how to conduct Consensual Qualitative Research to study attitudes towards non-profits and fruit and nut trees in the city. I have come into an amazing work environment, where I am constantly supported by inspiring people—Jordan being one of them. We work as a team—following the ebb and flow of meetings, unexpected turns, and a slew of new planting partners.

God has worked in serendipitous ways—and I could get into the nitty gritty analysis of how and why—but what I know right now is that She has given me an abundance of love and support.