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What is a miracle? No matter how you define it, the word carries a certain weight. Obviously there is a spiritual definition. Miracles are astounding circumstances we attribute to God. They are sacred, supernatural, divine in origin and purpose. At the same time, a miracle can mean something amazing whose origin appears completely natural or even human: a miracle drug, a miracle of science, a miracle worker. Interestingly, the twin meanings of miracle—both its divine and a secular connotation—have never been far apart. In English, the divine connotation exists by the 12th century, and the secular connotation follows it in the 13th century.
Hanna Jacob Doumette, the founder of The Christian Institute, recognized that dichotomy as a false one. He said: “There is no difference between a miraculous and a natural occurrence except in man's understanding. A miracle is an occurrence not understood by the mind. What is open to our intellectual and logical understanding, we accept as natural and normal.”
In other words, miracles are things that appear to be impossible from a particular vantage point. For example, the abilities of living things to elemental things would be miraculous. If a rock could perceive the growth of plants or the movement of animals, it would seem to be a miracle, something completely outside its own abilities and understanding of what it means to exist. In the same way, some aspects of humanity—the complexity of our cities, our ability to manipulate elements, our capacities for innovation, war and abstract thought—must seem miraculous to plants and animals.
It's no different from how the expanse of the cosmos or nature as a complete organism appears miraculous to us. Explaining a miracle should not diminish it but rather simply illustrate how much more there is to reality than we initially see. There is always something beyond ourselves, and that is the realm of miracles. It is the space where we release ourselves to what is rather than what we want to be.
It follows that the greatest miracles for us as individuals are the times when we jump from one level of consciousness to another. We see that illustrated multiple times in the Gospels. For example, the Gospel of John reports a man who was blind from birth, but Jesus made him able to see. Physically speaking his eyes were healed, but spiritually speaking his inner vision was awakened. Before he had experienced only darkness; after the miracle, he recognized he had been surrounded by light. It was that jump—from blindness to expanded perception—that was the miracle.
Earlier in the same Gospel, Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for much of his life. Physically speaking his legs were restored, but spiritually speaking he could move through life in a new way. His very reality was regenerated, and his relationship with destiny was clarified, quickened and forever changed. He leaped from one level of being to the next.
In each case, vital elements of both men's identities were awakened and utilized as they came to know their true selves. Consciousness expanded. Purpose was realized. The lower self more clearly saw and took steps toward the higher self, which is the indwelling Christ. That is a miracle we work toward through our own everyday imitation of Christ, no matter what we choose to call it.
Miracles are things that only appear to be impossible, beyond understanding or out of reach. Forgiveness seems like a miracle to the stubborn and stagnant in mind; faith and prayer seem like miracles to those who aren't in touch with Divinity; that anyone would be kind is a miracle to the selfish; prudence is a miracle to the shortsighted; knowledge is a miracle to the ignorant; truth is a miracle to the cynic. As spiritual people, we know those miracles are waiting for us to realize as we unfold, expand and embrace our higher selves.
Perhaps the best definition of a miracle is it's a space where we allow ourselves a bit of compassion. If we don't try to discredit or diminish a miracle, if we simply recognize it as a good thing, then we have approached it without judgment. We see it for the positiveness it brings, whether that's a fantastic healing, an expanded sense of self, insight into the workings of the world or simply the joy at knowing something remarkable occurred. And as soon as we perceive that, we start to live in a world where miracles happen.
We can always try to understand more about how a particular event occurs, of course, but doing so does not diminish the presence of God within all things. Now can be a time of miracles. We simply have to let them be.
Let us pray:
Dear God,
Thank You for everyday miracles.
Thank You for the moments when things become clear;
Thank You for the times when our steps quicken;
Thank You for the love and support of our neighbors;
Thank You that there is always more to learn, to see and to become.
Thank You for giving us a world where such things can be.
Amen.
“Life is full of miracles as much as its kingdom is full of natural creation. The line of demarcation between miracles and natural functioning disappears under the rays of universal intelligence, understanding and reasoning. The power of faith is miraculous; so is the power of the prayer. The might of love is miraculous; so is the power of kindness. The power of goodness is miraculous; so is the power of forgiveness.” - Hanna Jacob Doumette, “The Miracles of Life”