According to Wikipedia, “A miracle is an unexpected event attributed to divine intervention.” It continues with, “A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that God may work with the laws of nature to perform what people perceive as miracles.” Although these definitions all contain qualifiers - “attributed to”, “thought of”, “perceive as,” I truly believe I have witnessed miracles in my life and the lives of those around me. I would like to share three stories of recent miracles in my life.
The first occurred just before I became ill. As some of you know, in May I was privileged to lead 19 eighth graders and three of the world’s kindest, most patient adults on a class trip to Santa Monica and Catalina Island. Although the trip was filled with what I call “minor miracles” (most of them dealing with the minors), the one I would like to relate happened upon my return. Due to scheduling challenges, our 25th wedding anniversary fell within the span of the trip. Luckily, my wife was one of the adults I mentioned earlier, so we were together for the anniversary. We were able to waltz together that night on the Santa Monica pier (to the music of a street performer who later appeared on this season’s “America’s Got Talent”!), and during dinner that night, I re-proposed to her. Afterwards, while the class was spending time on the beach, I removed my wedding ring and put it in a safe place so that I wouldn’t scratch it while playing in the sand. The next morning when I went to where I thought I had put it (I was wearing cargo pants and a coat at the time and had access to three bags, so there were easily two dozen places it might have been), I didn’t find it. Thinking I had misremembered where I put it, I got on with rounding everyone up to travel back to Sacramento, meanwhile checking other places as I had time. By the time we had returned, I was pretty sure I had checked everywhere it could be and still had not found it. But I was not worried, at my age losing things and then finding them is a weekly, if not daily occurrence. However, after a day at home I had checked every pocket, crevice, and container I could think of and still no ring. I finally gathered all of the clothes and bags together on my bed, spread them out and put my hand into each possible hiding place and wiggled it around. Nothing. As I stared at the bed, I realized the ring was truly lost. The sense of loss was enormous. It was then that I closed my eyes and prayed. I don’t think I have ever prayed as fervently for anything in my life. I expressed my complete faith that even if the ring had fallen out of my pocket and was lying in the sand on the beach, God had the ability to bring it right back to me. I expressed that my desire for the ring was not for its monetary value, but for it as a symbol of my love for and marriage to Olivia that He had blessed. And finally, that if it be His will that I lose the ring, I would let go of it. When I opened my eyes, the ring was on the bed. In the center of the bed where I had just been staring in desperation a few minutes ago. Six inches away from any of the bags or clothes. Now, my rational mind wanted to believe that it fell out when I was shaking everything and I just didn’t notice. Yeah, right. I was LOOKING FOR IT. When I opened my eyes it wasn’t across the bed or tucked under something, it was right in front of me, away from everything else, in plain sight. I said a prayer of gratitude for this “perceptible interruption of the laws of nature” and put away my bags and clothes.
The next miracle I want to speak of happened (or more accurately, became evident to me) today. On Monday I received another ct/pet scan to check on my body’s response to the chemo therapy. As part of my 4th round of chemo today, I met with my oncologist where she gave me the good news that according to the scan, all evidence of the lymphoma was gone, in what they call a “complete response” to the treatment. (In case you are wondering, even with this news, the current chemo treatments will continue for two more sessions and there may may be another year or two of maintenance treatments of a lesser amount.) Although I have been praying for this and statistically it only happens in about 30% of cases similar to mine, this was not the miracle I want to tell you about. That occurred after I returned home. As soon as I had the news I called Olivia and let her know. She immediately sent out a missive sharing our news. When I returned from chemo, I found my email box filled with responses and congratulations. Most were simply one or two words. The effect on my heart and spirit was definitely an “unexpected event attributed to divine intervention.” While I have been greatly aware how we have been carried in all of your hearts and prayers and thoughts, the response was overwhelming. Just seeing the word “Yay!!!” or variations on it brought me to tears. The miracle of friendship and love was manifestly evident. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
And the last miracle? Back when I first began this journey, I was driving to the doctor’s office when day, when I saw trees. I thought of them in all of their seasons. I thought of the beauty of them. What we receive from them. The lessons they teach us. I began to think of all of creation in this light. How could I have missed all of this going through my daily life? These are not miracles of unexpected events or perceptible interruptions of the laws of nature. This is God working with the laws of nature to perform miracles. I pray now that I keep this awareness once this trial passes. May I continue to see the hand of God at work in all of His creation. May the blessings of family and friends continue to flow to me and through me to others. And may God bless you all.
