Let's Talk About Miracles ...

What is a miracle? If you ever asked or pondered this intriguing question you've come to the right place. But, before we could even attempt to answer it, we must first have a common understanding of the meaning of the word. To that end, I consulted a few leading modern-day authorities and got these noteworthy offerings.

A miracle is ... any amazing or wonderful occurrence. A marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of God. An intervention by God in the universe. A manifestation of perfection. An event in the natural world, but out of its established order, possible only by the intervention of divine power. An event that cannot be explained by the known laws of nature and is therefore attributed to a supernatural or divine power. An event that contravenes the laws of nature.

As I understand it, a miracle is something so great that it must be of God. Is that your understanding too?

Do you believe in miracles? The easy answer, depending on your convictions, could be yes or no. A more complete answer would depend on your life experiences.

A common fallacy is that miracles are unique events that occur from time to time, in obscure places and in the presence of "special" people. My personal belief is that there are countless miracles happening right here, right now. Yes! At this very moment!

I firmly believe that every human being, even the lowliest one by any class or system, is a miracle of stupendous proportions. Sadly though, we are conditioned to believe otherwise.

Before we explore that miracle any further, it is important for us to recognize that there are miracles everywhere. In every seed that becomes a seedling. In every seedling that becomes a tree. In every tree that blossoms and bear fruit. In every fruit produced because it inherits an identical likeness to the fruit that produced the seed that became the seedling in the first place.

Do you know of any apple trees that produced bananas? Or any banana trees that produced pears? No! Every little seed, even those that we callously discard, are pre-programmed to produce very specific seedlings and leaves and blossoms and fruits. If that is not a miracle, then I don't know what is!

Another dimension of that same miracle is that the "new" fruit will mature with all the attributes of the fruit that produced the seed. It will also be filled with specific nutrients. This is true not only of the apple and the pear but also of the billions of seeds that are produced in a boundless cycle around the world. This one miracle alone is mind-boggling for mere mortals like me.

As I continue looking out into the world, I see other miracles on the trees that came from those seeds. I see birds that sit on flimsy little branches that bend but do not break. Those same little birds, when viewed at close range, are symmetrically and intricately designed.

They are exquisitely colored and skilled beyond my comprehension. With no formal training, they master the art of flying through the skies with great adroitness and accuracy. There are no recorded incidents of birds colliding in midair in spite of the fact that there are billions in flight at any given time. Some even have the ability to sit on water without sinking like I do.

Moving to the waters, I see life in forms too numerous to count and they are all able to navigate the oceans without depending on PFDs (personal flotation devices). Here again, we have millions of aquatic creatures coexisting harmoniously and performing great feats without formal training.

There are countless other miracles in my backyard alone with the butterflies, insects, flies, earthworms and the neighbor's pests. I mean pets. Not to mention those that seem to appear from nowhere and commandeer my garbage can during the warm summer months.

The monarch butterflies in my backyard today will journey south to winter in Mexico. Next March, those same butterflies, then seven months old, will begin flying north. In the southern United States they will lay eggs and die leaving their offspring to continue the journey northwards.

The new monarchs will arrive here by the millions in May or June to brighten our gardens and our lives for another summer. All of this without the benefit of the maps and electronic gadgets that we need to guide us.

As awesome as these miracles are, there is one that is even more magnificent. The problem is that we are so conditioned to believe that miracles are earth-shattering events that we often overlook one of God's greatest miracles. Just look into the mirror and you'll see one. Where? In my mirror? That's just plain old me! My point exactly! You are one of God's greatest miracles!

I believe in miracles. I see them everywhere. When I look in the mirror, I see a miracle. When I look at you, I see a miracle. When I look around me, I see countless miracles. I see miracles in people, plants, animals, birds, the air we breathe, the sun that warms the earth and the moon that shines from heaven.

God made countless miracles and they are everywhere. They all meet one or more of the definitions listed above from the leading modern-day authorities. Every miracle is special. I believe there are countless miracles happening around the world at this very moment. All we have to do is open our eyes and we'll see some of them.

God has been creating miracles since the beginning of time and He continues to create them, even while we sleep, by the billions everyday. He creates a new one every time a baby is born. Every time an animal is born. Every time a seed becomes a seedling. If you don't believe these are miracles, try making one yourself. Forget about creating a human baby, start with something simple like a fly or an earthworm. Get my drift?

The greatest of all miracles begin when two cells unite. That by itself is a miracle because these two cells are so small that they can't be held by human hands or seen under normal conditions. Yet, one of them is required to travel through unfamiliar territory, with no travel experience, on its maiden voyage, to search for this infinitesimal cell that it has never met.

And furthermore, this seemingly insurmountable task has to be undertaken in the darkness of the womb. Yet, they find each other and unite to create exquisite beings like you and me. Note here again that there is no formal training or written step-by-step instructions for these minuscule cells to follow. It is all innate - part of the great miracle.

Another dimension of this great miracle is that in those infinitesimal cells God packed in things that would shape our lives forever. The list is infinite; it includes the genes that reflect our ancestry, our culture and our heritage. It also includes the essentials for our physical bodies with specific attributes related to hair type and skin color and stature. It even includes the "nebulous" attributes like emotions, feelings, abilities, senses, creativity, etc.

We only begin to understand the magnificence of this great miracle when we realize that it occurs countless times every minute of every day among all God's people including those considered by some of us to be of a lower class or caste. To truly understand it we have to consider the fact that this great miracle started millions of years ago and will continue until the end of time.

Another point worth noticing is that God did such a bravura job when He designed this great miracle that there was never a need to modify it to produce billions of human beings through out the ages. Is that not miraculous?

It is truly remarkable to see that God was able to create each of us different from each other and yet similar to each other in infinite ways. I know! That statement is confusing and contradictory but it is true and it fits the meaning of the word miracle as described above.

How are we different? We each have unique DNAs, fingerprints and eyes. Many of us could be identified by our built or height or shape or weight or hair or skin color. We could all identify a relative, friend or colleague from behind in a crowd of people from the same cultural or ethnic group. It is relatively safe to say that no two people are exactly alike.

We even have individual facial and other features, mannerisms, characteristics, appearance (looks), speech, personality and the way we stand or walk. Yes, even speech! We all have a unique voice. I know! Children in many households have the innate ability to emulate a voice that sounds exactly like their parents.

How are we similar? Most people have the same body structure - one head, two hands, two feet, two eyes, etc. Of the billions of people who were born in the history of the world, there is only an infinitesimal number with a different body structure. By the same margin, we all have the same senses with the ability to smell, taste, touch, hear and see. We all hurt emotionally and physically. We cry, we laugh, we talk, we run, jump and so on. This list is infinite too.

Last but certainly not least we can all perform great feats with our eyes closed and with little or no effort even while we sleep. One example is that we all have the ability to breathe in polluted air, filter out the dust and extract the oxygen to remain alive. Each and every one of us have that ability - our lives depend on it!