It has occurred to me through interactions I have shared with
church members, family members, friends, colleagues and others, that often times we think of
the miraculous as only being some huge, mind-blowing, time stopping, space bending, occurrence
that defies the natural order of things.
And that is not surprising knowing that the God who has done, does, and
will do all of these things again, was the One who created it all (time, space,
and a natural order) from nothing to begin with. However, I also think the fact that we are
even able to ponder the nature of miracles, is in itself a miracle. That I am able to be surrounded by people who manage to love me in spite of my boisterous, opinionated, and unbelievably
disorganized personality is miraculous to me.
The fact that the God of perfection chooses to love people covered in
what the Bible says God can’t even look upon, and offers to make them clean, is a miracle. And all of this (thought, relationship, and
cleansing) is evidenced inside of the natural order, established and cared for
by God, and enacted using both natural and supernatural means.
Mystery is no problem for me. It’s wondrous and awe inspiring. Mystery is exciting and scary. It reminds me that I am filled with powerful
presence and that I am insignificant, all at the same time. That’s easy to get behind and get passionate
about! In 1983 my grandfather was told he had an inoperable brain tumor, and that he should enjoy the remaining couple of months of his life as best he could. We buried him in 2006. Six months after his diagnosis, and with NO treatments, there was no sign of the tumor that was supposed to kill him. Our whole family was in awe. Granddaddy had a powerful testimony to share about God's healing power. I know first hand of God's miraculous healing. I have witnessed it. That is easy for me to believe. However, “small” miracles, things that I can see and maybe rationally understand how
God brought them to pass, are the ones that I tend to take for granted or dismiss as "coincidental". But at their heart, they are no less
miraculous than God’s parting of the Red Sea.
They, like the afore mentioned parting, are the ways in which the God of
the universe moves people forward, toward the intended goal of a more abundant
life. What do I mean?
