Miracles
December might be called “miracle” month. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of lanterns burning for 8 days. It points us to a story of liberation. The Christmas miracle describes the birth of Christ, and God becoming Emmanuel, God being born into the human race. Miracles play a role in many of the world’s religions. Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism speak of miracles in their faiths as well
There are many definitions of miracles. A common one would describe an event or something happening that is “wonderful”. It is statistically unlikely to happen; it is beneficial. Why think of miracles in the month of December? The element of miracle, whether it derives from faith or is just used casually, is a part of the happy times of people doing good for others, thinking of a time of relationships and the possibility of life becoming better, even the gift of “new life”. One of the most popular movies on TV over the December holidays, with a Christmas theme, is “A Wonderful Life”. George Bailey learns that he is important, that people love him, that life would not be the same for those who know him. A miracle of Love, perhaps?
I have thought about the miracles I see in the work I do as a counselor. Recently a client shared that finally there is some sense of accepting and moving beyond a loved one’s suicide. Another person has shared a sense of “gaining control” over this person’s life. A couple decided to look more closely at their relationship to take hold of it and plan their future together. One definition I find particularly interesting comes from the Christian Saint Augustine. He said that a miracle is “whatever is hard or appears unusual beyond the expectation or comprehension of the observer”. I think that is a quality of life that is there, if we are just able to see it. Sometimes our own expectations and particularly understandings and assumptions limit the possibilities that might exist.
Perhaps the real miracle is gaining the ability or taking the risk to see life differently. That is what clients in counseling and psychotherapy often have to be helped to do, in order to get beyond the conflict or issue which feels limiting and directed them to a therapist. Many of the words of our religious leaders these days challenge the believer to look beyond their own culturally and worldly experiences to see something that might not otherwise be there. Christians are challenged to see a world of peace. Muslims are challenged, though it is a staple of their faith, to give a certain percentage of their wealth to help others and thereby create “miracles” for others.
While the December holidays can bring as much sadness and depression, from stress, sad memories family conflicts those are exactly the places where miracles can occur. The miracle will be whatever happens that breaks into a person’s normal experience that has qualities of surprise, beneficence, and the wonderment of how did that happen. Perhaps one of the biggest miracles we Michiganders experience this holiday season is the many ways that people are reaching out to each other with gifts, food, money and many places trying to address mental and emotional and spiritual needs. Wouldn’t the real miracle if we kept this attitude and it continued in our lives all year? Happy Holidays!
Dr. Paul Melrose
