Ordinary and Extraordinary Miracles
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” —ROMANS 8:23 (NRSVUE)
We celebrate the miracle of the incarnation at Christmas. It is the belief that Jesus came into the world as a human, and, therefore, understands first hand what it’s like to live in a body. He knew physical pain, suffered hunger and thirst, and cried real tears. He is “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3, KJV). In the incarnation, Jesus signals that the physical world is a place where he has entered in order to work and to bless. But he doesn’t direct us to magical levers we must push in order to merit his attention. There’s a longer trajectory to the restoration we are receiving. Sarah Bessey in her book Miracles and Other Reasonable Things tells about how a serious car accident changed so much in her understanding of living in a body—especially one that breaks. She writes:
We are made in the image of God, (Genesis 1:27) communal by creation. And my body isn’t an impediment to knowing and following and embracing God. It’s part of the whole redemption. It is also redeemed, blessed by the incarnation all over again. Even my body, as it now stood, both healed and unhealed, was blessed. [Sarah Bessey. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2019). 194.]
By choosing to be one with us this way, compacting all divinity into small flesh to live and move as we do, Jesus shows his respect and love for the body, and his desire to save us, body and soul. While he walked on earth, he prioritized healing people’s physical bodies. But how do we cope when we pray for healing, but it doesn’t happen? As Sarah says, we must learn to “hold both grief and hope in [our] hands at the same time.” There are glimpses of the restoration that are coming and have already begun this Advent. May we have eyes to see both the ordinary and extraordinary miracles along the way.
REFLECT
1. Can you think of any “ordinary miracles” in your life? Things that make you pause with wonder? Can you remember specific moments when the natural world awakened a sense of curiosity or awe within you?
2. Sarah talks about joy and sorrow as feelings that can be experienced alongside one another. How do you see these contrasts affecting one another in your own life?
RESPOND
Go for a sensory holiday in a place that awakens wonder—a walk in a nearby forest or park, take time to sit and stare at the Christmas tree and every ornament, or make your favorite holiday treat and really savor it. Or while you are doing a necessary errand or chore, notice the details of what your body is sensing. Just for an hour, give yourself the freedom to simply see and hear and touch. Are there any ordinary miracles here?
A Blessing for the Glimpses
Only in fleeting glimpses do we see it, God, the coming of your kingdom.
The scented lilac, the velvet of new grass, and, let’s be honest, I’m sometimes bowled over by the smell of fresh laundry.
I don’t even mind.
Then there’s the ever-so familiar slope of shoulder, the curve and tilt of that beloved head, so particular to one story only.
The remembrances that ache a little because of what we’ve lost, and what we’ve gained.
The people who are radiant with love given and received.
All that has been done that is thoughtful or brave or gentle, or simply just very competent.
Sometimes that’s more than enough.
All these glimpses remind us that everything in the world that is good is actually from you.
And that because of this we know there will be more.
Promises fulfilled.
Restoration complete.
Come, Lord Jesus.
GOING DEEPER
Sarah Bessey is an author and preacher who speaks right to the soft spot where our deepest pain and deepest hope meet. Read Sarah’s book, Miracles and Other Reasonable Things, and listen as Kate and Sarah talk about it in their conversation, “Ordinary Miracles” (34 minutes).