FINAL THOUGHTS

I have no idea how grand or small, or even how profound an event has to be, to be considered a miracle. I know that the Catholic Church has definite formal guidelines to consider something to be a miracle and I have no intention of arguing that. Also, I mean no disrespect to anyone’s ideas on the matter. This issue was meant to be a reflection on the idea.

Perhaps the things I saw in the hospital were simply answers to prayers. Or maybe surviving something like a near fatal stroke so fast was God’s way of teaching me to count my blessings. Maybe it was a message to others to change something about their lives or pass on what they know about the powers of prayer. We may never really know.

If only the grandest events can be called miracles, then we need another word for the events that surely must have God’s hand involved but are taken for granted. Consider the events of the movie I reviewed. In a town of racial division, one very humble man is given the gift of sculpting, of which he wasn’t aware, but also the power to unite a community and an ability to teach the teachers about things he barely read about.

After the earthquake in Haiti, I saw a story on the 700 Club where a little boy was pulled out of the rubble of a building alive after 11 days. He was dehydrated but otherwise physically okay. On the same show, they were telling of other such events that seemed equally impossible. Either science doesn’t really know all about the capabilities of the human body or the events were miracles.

Also in Haiti, a country where voodoo is common, survivors were looking for churches and not the local mambo. In fact, the story about the quake making the voodoo priestess reassess her faith is a good example of how it takes a huge event to stir some people. It kind of reminds me how the people in the U.S. started praying after 9-11 and Katrina. It’s a shame because when faith in Jesus is a constant in our lives, big events come and go without real fear.

I’m not saying that Christians don’t feel fear in a disaster, but it’s not the same deep fear others feel. It wouldn’t be human to feel no fear even though God tells us 365 times in the Bible, “Do not fear”. I just think that the fear Christians feel is more of a defense mechanism and a call to serve.

Anyway, I still say we need a new and catchy word to describe the smaller events that aren’t major miracles, but still events that defy human reasoning. Having such a word in our psyche would keep us from missing them or forgetting them.

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Psalms 119:59

TESTIMONIES WANTED!

I want to try something different as soon as I get some feedback. After Mary wrote the last newsletter with Jeff’s help, I received some emails and comments of praise of their work. Then my webmaster, Doug sent the webhost’s report to me and I was struck by the fact that the website had visits from 74 countries.

That made me think that I need to give others a place to submit stories from their lives that can help others reflect on their personal faith. I’d like to hear from all ages. The children can teach us what life is like for young Christians and adults can pass along trials of adulthood that tried their faith.

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.
Psalms 35:28

We’re starting the second half of winter and soon it will be spring; time for confirmation and weddings and such. Also, there may be thoughts from others about social issues and ways that faith helped them through tough times. Any type of testimony would be appreciated as the experiences of others can help us all grow as Christians. Think about it and pass on that which you have learned.

But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

Hope by, Lisel Mueller
It hovers in dark corners
before the lights are turned on,
it shakes sleep from its eyes
and drops from mushroom gills,
it explodes in the starry heads
of dandelions turned sages,
it sticks to the wings of green angels
that sail from the tops of maples.
It sprouts in each occluded eye
of the many-eyed potato,
it lives in each earthworm segment
surviving cruelty,
it is the motion that runs the tail of a dog,
it is the mouth that inflates the lungs
of the child that has just been born.
It is the singular gift
we cannot destroy in ourselves,
the argument that refutes death,
the genius that invents the future,
all we know of God.
It is the serum which makes us swear
not to betray one another;
it is in this poem, trying to speak.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20