the Miracle - Part Two

In choosing a title for this blog, I had a double meaning. Yes, "chasing my miracle" was born out of life with my kids, and specifically Abby. But the reason I liked the name so much is because it expresses something much deeper and constant in my life. Let me explain, no take too long, let me sum up. (any other Princess Bride fans out there?)

I believe we were all born into a broken world. This planet, and our existence on it, is not progressing as God originally intended. There is a perfection, there is peace, joy, beauty, love, and more that we are missing. And, most unfortunately, God gets the blame for most of it. It's one of the biggest ironies in life - that the very God who gave us the way to thrive in life is blamed for our mess because we chose not to do it His way. In one of my favorite Bible verses, John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Sometimes we blame God for the stealing and killing and destroying that goes on - illness, storms, injustice. . . - and forget that His goal has always been life to the full. Remember the fruits of His Spirit, found in Galatians 5: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control? It strikes me that God is giving us good gifts, and we need to learn to give credit where credit is due. Destruction and death are from the thief, Satan, they have been since the beginning. Life and loving relationship are from God, they have been since the beginning.

So, when I say I'm chasing my miracle, I'm recognizing that everything good this life has to offer is from God. Given what we deserve - death and destruction because we align ourselves with Satan through sin - it's a MIRACLE that anything good happens at all. Think about the way our world is careening toward what is dark, evil, violent and immoral, and consider why we were not buried in our own rubble centuries ago. The only reason I can come up with is because God, in His Mercy, chose to continue to be involved in our mess. The only reason we have anything good is because God is good. And in my book, if the only way it's possible is through God, then it's a miracle.

Chasing my miracle is looking for God at work in the world around me, and seeking to join Him - to align myself with His Kingdom - for the furtherance of love, joy, peace, healing, wholeness and all that is good.