What Is a Miracle?

There are two different definitions of a miracle within Webster’s Dictionary. I will focus on the first for now:

“An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.”

This morning I watched a reel of a man talking about miracles. He told the story of Peter fishing in Capernaum. Peter was questioned about the Temple tax and why he and a certain Rabbi had not yet paid it.

The Rabbi asked Peter:

“What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes? From their own sons or from others?”

Peter answered, “From others.”

The Rabbi then replied:

“Then the sons are exempt. But so that we do not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish that you pull up. When you open its mouth, you will find a silver coin. Take that coin and give it to them for me and for you.”

Peter did exactly that. He caught a fish, opened its mouth, and found the money needed to pay the tax.

There are several interesting points in this story. One is the statement, “the sons are exempt.” I have thoughts on that, but they are for another time.

What Peter experienced was considered a miracle according to the first definition. Yet I recently watched another reel from a Jewish Rabbi discussing the soul within Jewish tradition. He explained that every soul comes into this world with a single mission, one duty it is meant to fulfill, even though no one fully knows what that purpose is until the time comes.

That brings us to the second definition of a miracle:

“An effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.”

If we are all souls created by the Grand Architect of the Universe for a specific purpose, then perhaps the definition of a miracle takes on a third meaning.

Think about that for a moment.

Maybe your purpose is helping someone through a serious financial hardship. Maybe it is answering a 3 a.m. phone call when someone is struggling with thoughts they should not face alone. Maybe it is something as simple as saying “hello” or holding a door open for another person.

To the one receiving it, those moments can mean everything.

The story of Peter begins with words followed by action. Peter heard a voice and moved toward action.

Has that ever happened to you?

Have you ever felt a pull, heard a quiet inner voice, or sensed you should do something for someone? And when you acted on it, how did it turn out?

Many people think of miracles only as events written about in sacred texts. I understand that viewpoint, and I agree those stories are miraculous. But perhaps the most sacred text is still being written every single day: life itself.

The sacred pages of your life are bound within the holy book of your existence.

I tend to believe miracles are far more common than we realize. According to Worldometer, there are more than 8 billion people living on this rock circling the sun. That means there are billions of miracles every single day.

And maybe that means something important.

Maybe it means…

You are a miracle.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly