Miracles

A poster I recently read at social media got me thinking. It said: “The grass is always greener where you water it.” I thought of what some people speak of as miracles, and some call luck; both groups refer to something desired but kind of unexpected. In both instances, one feels a bit surprised. What is often ignored is the ‘background’ to the actual lucky event or miracle.

Of course miracles sometimes do hit us seemingly out of the blue – that’s why we call them miracles. If we believe or have some faith, then we tend to notice these small or big miracles. If we don’t or even are pessimistic, it is all too easy to overlook them when they do happen. But there is an element of what in modern books we read as: “Believe it and you will see it”, or “Just act as if”.

Many people consider themselves to be either lucky or unlucky. But, these words, attributed to Roman philosopher Seneca are worth a second thought: “Luck is what happens when preparedness meets opportunity.” Good luck like good faith works much in the same way as bad luck or lack of faith.

During a terrible flood a pious man trapped on a rooftop prayed fervently and expressed strong conviction that God himself would rescue him. He refused offers of help, telling a neighbour, then a boatman and finally a helicopter rescue team that a bigger power – God himself – had promised to save him. In the end the waters rose above him and he drowned. Meeting God in the afterlife he expressed his deep disappointment that despite his unshakable faith, God seemed to have let him down, and God tenderly reminded him that he had sent not one but three of his representatives to rescue the poor, foolish man.

So called lucky people generate their own good fortune or miracles mainly by opportunities. They listen to their intuition as well as logically analyse things when making decisions. They create self-fulfilling prophesies through fostering positive expectations. They don’t allow disappointment or slowness in getting results to make them give up – and they generously become conduits of miracles that benefit others.

Choosing to live with wise faith in things not seen, not proven, and not guaranteed – we replace the limited and predictable and tap into the unlimited power of the possible.