Tag Archives: miracles

You Are A Miracle: Reflections on Existence and Purpose

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I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but: You. Are. A. Miracle. A scientifically bonafide miracle. I know this because many, many moons ago when I was in university, my anatomy professor gave a very sobering lecture about human reproduction. Did you know that the percentage of actual, “normal” human beings born is 34%. That’s before birth. Thirty four out of 100 “good eggs” develop to 40 ish weeks. Then there is that tumultuous day that we celebrate every year called your birth day. If you make it through that, there is about a 31% chance you come out relatively ready to face the world… and from there… well, let’s just say, if you have survived this long and are reading this post: You are a miracle!

You. Are. A.Miracle.

I was musing about this at a baby shower held in honour of my beloved daughter-in-law. She is about three weeks out from giving us our first grand baby! We are excited, of course, but becoming a grandparent for the first time makes you reflect on mortality, your own legacy, and well, the miracle of life itself. It’s fragile. It’s vulnerable. It’s oh so special. Yet, most of us take it for granted. We shop for cute little onesies at Walmart and complain about the cost of diapers. The world is overpopulated. We can all agree that there are some people who should just simply not be parents. Others who deserve to be and can not. People have suffered and are suffering. This broken world is not what God designed. It begs the question: Should we be concerned at each individual life and focus on its tenuous existence?

My own views on mortality and life are complicated and not for debate today. I’ve had my share of death and understand the significance of life. I’m discovering rural farmers have a view of life that, shall we say, is practical and perhaps more matter of fact. Philosophers will have a different view. Christian worldview with belief in a Creator God? Their discussion will different from the atheist’s. As I said, it’s simply another muse I’m putting out there for reflection. A potential for thought and discussion. Go where you wish with it. Let’s just say, I don’t think God makes mistakes. He has a plan and your life is a significant part of it.

We are each a significant part of God’s Plan

Christmas is quickly approaching and I cannot help but think of Mary. Unwed teenager, pregnant, but she claims not by her betrothed. First time mom gives birth in barn. Believe me, I have a barn, it would not be my first choice. You tube worthy story, for sure. Yet, here too, God had a plan, and Mary’s life was a significant part of it. Why have baby Jesus come to Earth as a vulnerable baby? Helpless and fragile? Utterly human and at risk for all that humanity has to offer. Would not have been my choice either… but then again, I’m not God, am I?

And so we have come full circle back to my original thought: You are a miracle. Significantly created and planned for by the ultimate Creator. Designed and destined for greatness… or at least some role in His ultimate plan for humankind. He knows we are but dust. And yet, He loves us beyond measure. Perhaps this is why He gives us babies…. and grand babies. To remind us that we are miracles designed just the way He planned for just the role He planned. I hope this thought makes you smile today… because you are worthy.

#WordoftheYear 2022

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Well, we made it to another year… kicking and screaming, maybe, but here we are! It’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs again in 2021, with the global pandemic hanging over us yet again. Still, time travels on. A constant in this world of upheaval. Time doesn’t seem to stop for anyone… or anything. And so we arrive at 2022.

As many of you will recall, for 2021, I chose a #wordoftheyear. It was my first attempt at such a thing, and I think it went off rather well. (You can read some of those thoughts here) It’s different from a resolution or goal… it can be interpreted differently throughout the year’s circumstances, and may appeal to you in a variety of situations. For 2021, my word was “brave”. I felt it. I failed at it. I focused on it.

This year, * drumroll please * my word is magic. When my eldest son was younger, he loved magic tricks… he learned a few and put on performances where he would “wow” us with his slight of hand. We saw magicians in Vegas and on tv specials and ooohed and ahhhed at the magic and wondered “How’d they do it?” But when I picked this word for 2022… this is not the definition of magic I had in mind. This magic is trickery and illusion. There’s enough of that out there in the world. I certainly don’t need to focus on that kind of magic.

Photo by Almos Bechtold on Unsplash

No, when I chose the word, maybe I was thinking about miracles. Maybe I was thinking about the unexpected. Maybe I was thinking about the astonishing. Perhaps I wanted to focus on the little things in life that are magic… things that used to make me oooh and ahh, but have been pushed aside by my practical side. Things that brought a little joy into people’s lives for no reason other than it was fun… like sparkles and sprinkles. Covid has robbed us of some of that. We have become consumed with sanitizer and sterility. I need some fairy dust in my year. I need some ribbons and confetti and spur-of-the-moment decisions — because I really don’t like those things. I fret at the cost and the environmental impact and the lack of frugality to those things. The people around me do like those things, though, and maybe we both need a little magic to brighten our days up this year.

I’m not so good at making magic. I miss the little ones at school who forced you to see the magic. The wide-eyed attention they gave when they just knew that something cool was about to happen. I want to be the wide-eyed one this year. I want to create those experiences for those around me… through my actions, through my faith in a great big God who still does miracles, and through my attention to the small details that allow me to see the everyday miracles. I want to delight in the smells and sounds and sights of a great big world around me and be astonished at it. I want to say, hey God, “How’d ya do that?” Magic.

I also think about magic in the sense of “ta-da” moments. When the hankies disappear into the hat. When the puff of smoke turns the bird into the beautiful lady. I’m learning how to make things new again — by fixing, painting, fluffing and upcycling. I am learning to love the ta-da moments of my projects when I can say Ha! Look at how that just turned out! Magic. Things transformed from one thing, into another… that’s a magic God loves to see, too. And I hope it will be part of my journey this year, too. I long to share it with you, my friends on this little piece of the internet where we dream big and fail hard. Where we think deeper and muse mightily.

So, my friends, “cheers” to another new year! May our year be filled magic, wonder and a little bit of mystery… and a good dose of musing about it all!