Miracle….an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs….an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment….Merriam-Webster Dictionary

I haven’t actually thought much about miracles lately. There was a time when many friends were engaged in the study of A Course in Miracles which seemed to help them engage more fully in every day life, see the Divine in their living, chart a course for a positive, spirit-filled way of being in the world. I was intrigued but never took the time to pursue the study further. As a product of the scientific age, most of us don’t speak much of miracles….even in the church. Sometimes we casually say things like "what a miracle!" when little oddities happen…..everything from a diagnosis reversed to a difficult class passed to the teenager who picks up their room without being asked.

Miracle…from the Latin miraculum..….. ‘to wonder or marvel’. Last night our Bishop gave us this challenge:"If you want to see a miracle….you have to be a miracle." What does it mean to be a miracle? Do you think of yourself as a miracle? Do you think of your life as a miracle? What about your work? Are you creating miracles today?

As people of faith,our primary story begins in the Creation Story. This story of chaos, creativity, connection, also reminds us that we are created in the Image of God. Miracle. That same story describes the "extremely outstanding or unusual event" of our interconnection with all…..water, air,sky, earth, Sun, Moon(full last night, by the way), plants, animals, one another, the Holy. Throughout the scriptures we read story after story of transformation…"an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs…think Moses, Mary,Esther, Joseph, Paul, Sarah, Abraham, Jesus. All created in the Divine image.

A favorite poem by Mary Oliver begins:" I am a woman of sixty years and glory is my work." Everyday I am invited by the Holy One to wake up and fully claim that I see God’s image in the world. Everyday I am invited to marvel at the cotton-candy of clouds floating through the blueness of Midwestern sky. Everyday I am asked to look deeply into the eyes of those I love and really see who they are.  Everyday I am urged to notice the small, but beautiful simplicities of Creation….the dandelion, the variance of the color green, how the chipmunk in our yard can make such a huge noise with such a small body, the impossibility of a baby’s eyelashes. Miracles…………..

Everyday I am…you are….also invited by the Holy One to wake up and fully claim that we reflect God’s image into the world. It is a daunting task. Being an Image of God. Being a miracle Seeing miracles.The good news is that we are not alone. We are co-creating with the Miracle Worker.