What Brings Us Here?

Connection, catch a spark, a myriad of possibilities.

What exactly is “serendipity?”


Webster says, “the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.” Key aspects: unintentional discovery, valuable or pleasant, lucky or fortunate. This differs from fate as that is considered something that happens to a person, and not necessarily a pleasant outcome.


While collating my list of movies and books on the serendipity theme, every list centered on romance. My head doesn’t go there when I consider or have experienced a serendipitous moment. My moments have included movies, music, or a sequence of events connecting people and places.


Serendipity doesn’t begin or end with finding one’s true love. It’s those moments that string together like a spider web capturing my soul. To me, it’s like when a rock skips across a pond, you can’t plan where it will tap tap tap along the surface, and yet it lands exactly where it was meant to be.


It’s when this leads to that, and that leads to this, and that leads to a whole new thread in the tapestry of one’s life.


They are unplannable, unpredictable, and outrageously unique, and the best way the holy cosmos whispers, “Pause. I’m here, right here, my dear, every minute of every day, and I love you.”


This month we have a special guest writer. She is a colleague of mine and after she shared with me an event in her life, her story fit perfectly with our theme. If you don’t read anything else on my page, please take the time to read her inspirational serendipitous story.

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"MOST RECENT MUSE"

By Lori Shutrump October 6, 2025
Unexpected Connection Working on my next writing project, I had the honor of interviewing an authentic cowboy. He is my husband’s cousin’s brother-in-law who lives in Montana. I reached out to this cousin to schedule a time to talk with her and her husband about my project. Afterward, she suggested that I speak with her brother-in-law Brian who restores motorcycles and has horses.  In between completing my lengthy to do list on a busy weekend, I seized a moment to call him to schedule a visit or zoom meeting for some time in the future. I planned to leave a message if he didn’t answer. To my surprise, he answered and said that I caught him at a good time, which after talking with him, I realized how truly rare the moment was. He explained it was a fluke that I called at that moment as he had just returned from a long trip. He works most days from five in the morning until ten at night and was scheduled to leave for a month-long adventure early the next morning.
Rounding the Bend  Unlocking the Secrets Behind the Pharmaceutical Rep's Roster British cars
By Lori Shutrump October 6, 2025
Unlocking the Secrets Behind the Pharmaceutical Rep's Roster british cars
By Lori Shutrump October 6, 2025
It’s a wild ride watching unplanned connections unfold into perfect alignment. A dear friend recently started creating pieces of artwork inspired by his love of music. He’s always been an artist, specifically a sculptor, but with his recent diagnosis of ALS, it’s not possible for him to create as he once did. Seeing his struggle, someone suggested that he express his artistic talent on paper rather than through the larger, more physically aggressive sculpting media.  Thank you to the smart soul who recommended this therapy and to his beautiful wife and sister who nudged him along. His initial sketch was of his son as a child - a full-faced, wild-curly haired, little boy. The work was raw and captured the sweetness and energy of his child. This was his first pencil drawing since his days in school, and in the making of this piece, at a time of
Two women in casual clothing sitting at a white table, talking. One drinks coffee, the other gestures. White room.
By Lori Shutrump September 14, 2025
Loretta with love resolving conflict
By Lori Shutrump September 1, 2025
Facing Fears: A Morning Journey
the bible in a New Light There is more love in God’s word than anything else.
By Lori Shutrump August 24, 2025
I read that a sojourner is someone who lives in a place temporarily, a visitor, traveler, stranger or foreigner.There is more love in God’s word than anything else.
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CHECK OUT THE LATEST VIBE

WHO IS L. A. McMURRAY?

L.A. mcMurray writer, advocate, speaker, car enthusiast, community change with spiritual connection

L. A. McMurray is a writer, advocate, speaker, classic car enthusiast, and kind soul who is passionate about showing up for others, creating change, sense of community, spiritual connection and kinship with all creation. She is not afraid to be different, question, and stir the pot or flip traditions. She doesn’t believe in living life on cruise control but prefers to listen to and move with the unique rhythm and flow of the universe.

Embrace Serendipity: Ignite Love, Peace, and Enlightenment!


A place for sharing the muse of the moment, serendipitous phenomenon, and offer a dose of encouragement through books, articles, workshops, music, and movies to elevate spiritual wellness. Consider this space a lighthouse to help guide souls safely through dangerous and difficult times.

MY NEWEST BOOK

A wildly determined Irish Catholic pursues Heaven's playbook to ensure she and her family evade the heat of Hades.


After many unanswered questions and ongoing frustrations with narrow-minded religious laws and leadership, she discovered God beyond the sacred walls of the church.


This is one person's unique adventure from Cradle Catholic to Spiritual Mystic. The most sacred moment was the evening she received a holy telegram from her father shortly after his death delivered by the coolest angel, actor Steve McQueen.


Thanks for stopping by!


L.A. McMurray Lori Shutrump God is in the odd, the ordinary, and outside the church book.
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Hello Friend.

 Insights from My Personal Journey

I must be clear from the start… movies, music, books and mystical experiences are my mojo and muse. I also must be crystal clear, that I am not a licensed therapist in any way. My website and writing are of my own personal experience and not to be used as clinical expertise. Everything I publish on my website is just that, personal, sometimes profound and sometimes preposterous. But…that’s ok, let’s put it out there and see where it lands.


 Messages from the Beyond Await

My first book, God is in the Odd, the Ordinary, and Outside Church, which I realize now is too long of a title and starts out with a word that turns people off. Yet, it says exactly what is in the book, so if you’ve read the title, you’ve read the book, but if you stop with the title, you will miss a great read. Because in it I share how the movie Bullitt from 1968 was a vehicle for my father to let me know after his passing that he was still with me and always will be. And who doesn’t want to hear from their loved one after they’ve transitioned to the next life?!

Diving into Dylan's World Today!

My recent movie obsession is A Complete Unknown, the biopic about Bob Dylan. This movie, the characters (in real life and in the movie) have consumed my mind and energy unlike any other movie. I’ve since read the two books the movie was based on and every documentary about that era in the ‘60s. And I’ve read books by writers and poets from the ‘50s who inspired Dylan. I’ve been going down a folk singing, non-conformist, beatnik rabbit hole, and I’m lovin’ every minute of it!

Join My Journey
Embracing Health & Wellness Together!


I am thrilled to go live with this space and that you are joining me on this road trip called life. You are always welcome here and hopefully will enjoy my writing adventures that are seeds for my soul.

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Jeremiah 17:7

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in the Lord. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in drought and never fails to bear fruit."