Six ~

So- Called Miracles And Mysterious Ways

Dear reader, exactly what is it that constitutes a bona fide miracle? And what would serve as an example? Would it be when someone is determined by medical professionals to be on their death bed, only to fully recover the next day? Would it be someone surviving a sky- high fall when their parachute never opened? Or one receiving a monetary gift from a complete stranger, in the exact amount that they had just prayed for in private? (I once witnessed this happen to a good friend of mine. It was truly awesome.) How ’bout praying while stranded miles from home, only to have a white limo pull up momentarily, and have the driver offer you a ride to that specific destination you were headed to. . . even before you’ve told them of your situation?!?

Seems like whenever such wild incidents are shared with people, they’ll usually react in one of two ways. Either they’ll tend to mock you, and doubt your report, like a Thomas. Or, they’ll be taken aback, simply in awe of the extraordinary. Of course, such events may or may not be chalked up as “miracles” per se’. (Maybe not even as ‘small miracles’, as if such a thing could exist.) The term “miracle” may even be considered a relative term to some. So I’d really appreciate your pondering the subject at hand as I regale you with the following ~

This happened to yours truly, way back in the day, dear reader. You tell me, whether this qualifies as truly miraculous. It was around 2:20 in the am, and I had been trying to get a hold of my friend Brian since dinner time. You see, I had just started a new job workin’ in the service deli at the local supermarket, and was in dire need of retrieving my work uniform from my buddy’s car. I had left it in there for safe- keeping earlier, thinking that we would be hanging out that night. . . but alas, we did not. In fact, all of my calls were going directly to his voice mail. So now, I was supposed to clock in at the jobsite just before daybreak to slice roast beef and baby swiss cheese, and to deep fry some potaters as well. That’s right. I said potaters. Of course, none of this may seem like an emergency in the life and death sense of the word, but I felt it was important enough to start wandering ’round town, in search of my friend’s car. Didn’t want to show up at the new gig in a hoodie n’ tattered jeans, ya know? There was little doubt that would’ve been frowned upon. ‘Unprofessional’ even. So, I set off hoofing it crosstown to check the two locations where I hoped to find Brian’s car. It took me about forty minutes to reach the first destination, and as a pretty thick fog was settling in, I had to walk several houses down the street to visually confirm that his car wasn’t there. “Damn!”, I thought to myself. “That sucks”, I added out loud. And after taking but a moment to sigh, I turned to backtrack my steps to the main road. Onward to the next place I would try. I recall uttering a little prayer something like “God, I could use Your help here. . . please.” (Now I know this is just a riveting adventure of a story thus far, but I assure you, dear reader, the good part is upon us 🙂 )
As I stepped off of the curb to cross Bellflower Boulevard, I took about five steps before stopping smack dab in the middle of the street. Why did I stop, you ask? Well, first off, I heard a low- volume voice in my head telling me to “Stop”. Mind you, it couldn’t quite be classified as a whisper, but, anyway ~ I also felt this sudden pressure on my chest halting me where I stood. It wasn’t so much like someone’s hand, but more like the resistance one might feel walking against a tremendous wind. Thing was, there was zero wind that night. So, pretty trippy, eh? Then I heard the same voice, “Go back.” I sighed again, trying for a moment to figure out whether I was going nutso, but then I simply went back. Thinking that I was probably going right back to the same place I had just checked, I started heading for that very same house. It was only a moment later that I felt myself being prompted to an entirely different place, several streets over. No doubt its worth mentioning that it was some little road I had never been down before, nor did I know anyone who lived there. Nevertheless, I went all the way to the corner before stopping and staring into a thick fog. Now, I’m going to confess to you right here, dear reader, that I started thinking to myself, “this is just freakin’ stupid”, as I ventured down that foggy street. I couldn’t see jack. It was only getting later; my clothes were getting slightly damper. And with exception of the aforementioned “guidance” I was still trippin’ on, I had no reason for walking in that direction. But then, about fifteen houses deep, there in the fog, Brian’s car. I kid you not. It was surreal. And maybe a bit spooky? In fact, it took me a minute or two of walking around the vehicle before actually approaching it. Then I thought about that impromptu prayer I had put up asking God for His help, and just kinda thought, “Okay then.” I will admit that in that moment, I failed to thank God right away. But I have mentioned to you how I was trippin’ at this point, yes? It’s true. Though not on drugs or anything. (Just for the record, I’ve never been into drugs.) To the contrary, I was completely sober minded, and yes, wide awake. This was reality.
So why was I so surprised? After all, I believe in God, and in all of those miraculous things that took place in biblical times. And we are talking about The Same God now as back then. So why wouldn’t I embrace this?!? Was it because such events must be considered so extraordinary? Or because it had to be that something “supernatural” had occurred? Possibly. If we stop and think about it though, everything God does can be dubbed as ‘supernatural’, can’t it? Maybe I just needed a moment to get over my lesser self, and wrap my head around the truth.

At any rate ~ My story ends happily with me opening the ride’s wind- wing to get my work clothes out, thereby escaping any further grief over the situation. And as my amigo got in contact with me the following afternoon, I inquired as to why his car had been parked where I had found it. It all had to do with his hiding out from a dude that may have wanted to beat him up. I dunno. Brian was always sort of a smartass, so guess that reason didn’t surprise me. I also suppose, it almost seemed inconsequential to what had transpired on my end. Though if we really mull it over, it wasn’t. I mean, I could never call this an incident of great coincidence myself, but even if someone did, then that explanation that my friend shared would only reflect even greater odds of all of those details lining up as they did. Know what I mean?
So, I believe that brings us back to my original question at hand. Miracle? That is, provided we believe that I’m not 5150, coo-coo for cocoa puffs, boldface lying, or on drugs then or now. . . An event like this could never be dismissed as a mere coincidence, could it? Or tied to some form of unwanted clairvoyance?!? Naaah!
Personally, I can only give credit to God alone. Whether we’d care to coin it as a miracle per se’, well, we can re-pose that original question at hand:
What qualifies as a miracle?

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Merriam- Webster’s latest online definitions of the word read as follows:

{ mir.a.cle , noun }

> an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention

in human affairs.

> an extremely outstanding or unusual eve

in human affairs.

> an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment.

I’d say these definitions almost suffice in what makes for a miracle. . . or at least in the mainstream point of view. Though in Mateo terms, I might say that a miracle is anything extraordinary enough to catch one’s attention, and quite possibly cause one to ponder the existence and involvement of God. Like? For instance? Well, I suppose that it could be anything that stands apart from routine, couldn’t it? Though, the less common the event, the more likely people may take notice, yes? I mean, which would you be most likely to take notice of in your public park. . . a penguin or a pigeon? If you live in a fairly warm climate and responded with a penguin, then we’re probably on the same page. Of course, if we lived in a place with penguins aplenty, and had suddenly viewed our first pigeon perched upon an igloo, the opposite might ring true. But then, there will always be the clueless sorts as well, that may never acknowledge anything. . . not even, say, a giant sprinkled donut hovering above the earth. (What?!? Nothing impossible with God, right?)
Take, for another example, what a lot of folks refer to as ‘the miracle of child birth’. It should seem pretty amazing, considering how a baby is created, and brought into the world. Though to some, its mere biology, and it occurs all the time. Hence, the lack of wonderment from certain types, I suppose. Yet, if a virgin were somehow able to give birth. . . yeeeaaah, now that would be something worth noticing, wouldn’t it?!? I’m certain that would be a miracle! Or, if an entire sea were to be parted in two, with it’s waters standing vertically up on end, while vast numbers of God’s people passed right through it to safety! (Though, the bad guys that followed, didn’t.) Or, supposing a man of God were thrown into a den of starving lions, but emerged unharmed the following day. (Though the bad guys that followed, didn’t.) Or, if Someone could walk on water. . . Wait! . . . Or better yet, turn water into wine! Now, that would be nifty!

Funny thing though, about all God’s so- called miracles: All of the events that you and I may exalt as miraculous above the every- day, are probably no more difficult for God than anything else He does. That is to say, I’m sure that it’s no more difficult for The Lord to turn water into wine than it was for Him to create water in the first place. That was awesome enough in itself. Yet, we’ve never been astounded by the simple existence of water, have we? Perhaps we’ve just taken water for granted. (And thereby, perhaps, we’ve taken God for granted?) Maybe its because H2O just seems like another everyday object to us. And the same is likely true with any other so- called miracle. . . like raising the dead to life. Think most people are impressed with the mere existence of people in general? Probably not. We’re surrounded by them. Yet, I dare say it’s no more difficult for God to raise the dead back to life than it was for Him to miraculously create people in the first place. And that was beyond impressive, or at least it should have been. (Though I realize we’re executing innocent babies in numbers beyond shameful. . . like it’s no big deal. But I digress ~)

So consider light, if you would, dear reader. How did God ever bring that phenomenal idea to fruition? God simply said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. Then He went on to create the sun and the moon, and set them in motion, as He saw fit to do. WoW. That’s The God we’re talking about here. But how many of us are truly impressed with this on the daily?!? We really should be. But what does it take to impress the common man anyway?!?

Now, just in case you’re wondering why I’m using the term so-called miracles at times, it’s not because I doubt any of The Lord’s reported actions in the least. Nor am I unimpressed. Just the opposite! Its only because God is so incredible, that everything He does should truly be considered miraculous to us. I mean, is there anything too difficult for The Lord to accomplish? Or do you think there’s anything that The Almighty has to exert a lot of extra energy on, or concentrate solely upon, in order to accomplish? Neither do I. As far as I can tell, God just goes about His business of being God, and doing whatever He pleases.

So, in all reality, every move that God makes is just as incredible as the next. This is why (from our limited point of view), either nothing God does should be considered as truly miraculous, or everything must be. Of course, I subscribe to the latter stance. I realize that, to some, it may sound as though I’m trying to take something away from the way God moves. I’m not. I’m only belittling the notion of holding those so- called miracles in such high regard above all of God’s other works. In fact, the reality that God is omnipotent, and can do anything He wishes with little to no effort is only a further testimony to His greatness. Just as a person’s inability to appreciate God’s everyday greatness could be a testimony to one’s inadequacy. Wouldn’t you concur?
And so, as true Christian believers, if we’re striving to have a true appreciation for God, it shouldn’t be strictly for the amazing out- of- the- ordinary things that happen, but for those everyday “miracles” that God provides. Orchids. Gravity. Kangaroos and koalas. Cantaloupe. (He’s always creating such wondrous things, and providing them to us.) Music. Fire. Midnight blue. Carne asada. The Sun. The way hearts beat. Caramel. The sound of thunder. Lions and beaches and paws… and the hits just keep coming. As I was saying before, I think we should be considering all such things as miracles from God. Everything God does is amazing. Though if you were to ask me what moves me most, I’ll close with this ~
Considering how we only react to certain events, and why God would ever cater to that trait in us ~ His only viable motivation to go above and beyond has to be His love for us. I mean, it’s not as though He ever has to prove anything to us, right? God is God. He’s above all that, and He reigns Sovereign just the same, with or without our praise. But this observation may be considered miraculous in itself, dear reader. . . that a Supreme Being/ God would ever love us enough to take such an interest in our well- being. That’s miraculous. Amen?

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Mysterious Ways Indeed

From John 3: 8-12 (NIV):

⁸ “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of The Spirit.”
⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher”, said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”

Dear reader, I used to wonder whether Nicodemus was lacking in his knowledge of God’s ways because of his lack of faith, or if it was possibly the other way around. But then ~ I wondered whether God simply hadn’t opened Nico’s eyes yet.

They do say that The Lord moves in mysterious ways. Not that the aforementioned is a biblical verse. (I’ll be perfectly transparent here. I had to look it up;) It seems that this particular saying was derived from a Christian hymn, written way back in 1773 by a Mr. William Cowper of England. He aptly entitled the poem: “Light Shining Out of Darkness”. Good words, Bill.

Though that ‘mysterious ways’ saying isn’t in The Bible, there are passages reflecting a similar sentiment.

Isaiah 55: 8,9 N I V:
⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways”,
declares The Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Romans 11: 33 N I V:
Doxology
³³ Oh, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments,
and His paths beyond tracing out!

So, what can we take to heart from the passages above? Are we to be eternally clueless as to what The Almighty may be doing, in any given situation? Or are His plans accessible to us, if we only make the effort to seek them out?

Well, dear reader, I’ll cut to the chase in sharing my opinion, and you can double- check my conclusions for yourself. Cool? As much as I believe in seeking out God and His ways, I don’t believe we’ll ever know everything God knows. . . or even a tenth. I simply believe that God has chosen not to reveal most things to us, or as they say “not in this lifetime”. Although I do believe that it’s entirely possible that there are many things that The Good Lord may choose to let us in on, each according to his or her measure of wisdom and faith, as God has allotted to each of us. (Tell me, was that sentence entirely too long?) Sorry. I’ll put it in other words. Each of us has a certain portion of faith, and, each of us has a certain portion of understanding, proportionate to our faith. That is, some of us may comprehend just “the basics” regarding God and His ways, whereas, others may be given a bit more. So, although we’re to strive for Godly wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and understanding, all of these are gifts endowed to each of us by The Holy Spirit.
Now, some people are blessed with an abundance of spiritual gifts, even before birth. (Think John The Baptist.) Others, to be Spiritually enlightened later. (Ponder Pentacost.) And still with others, its by the reading of God’s Word, or by prayerful meditation, or by simply asking God, that they receive His graces. (Check out James 1: 4~8.) Regardless of the timing though, we can rest assured that each of these paths is according to God’s grand plan. And some may be designated to remain altogether clueless, while others are divinely destined to see fantastic things. But why would He arrange things in such a way?!? I dunno. The Lord works in mysterious ways, yes?
Of course, the cynics and non-believers of this world like to call this premise a cop- out. . . not having all the answers for why God takes certain actions in certain ways without explaining Himself, that is. They feel so unsatisfied with a mysterious God. They’d rather not believe in Him at all, rather than give Him the benefit of their doubt. But what can we expect from such a ‘seeing is believing’ crowd?

I understand that in the most basic linear way of thinking, the very concept of God may defy human logic. But so what? In that in one simple form of thought, the very existence of God might seem absurd to most. (And that is a shame.) ‘Cause on an entirely different level, a greater level, God makes absolutely perfect sense. ( Not that He has to, of course :^))
It’s good to keep in mind that God doesn’t owe them anything, and neither do we. Neither is God obligated to shed His light on anything for us either, dear reader. Though He does so at times, simply because He loves us, and that is forever His prerogative. That much we know.