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Miracles--Common and Uncommon

© Richard Kent Matthews

Do you believe in miracles? I do. But not in the way you might think. I do not believe in anything supernatural. But I still believe in miracles. How can that be? Let's see. . .

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines a miracle in this way: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. Also, an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment. And from Christian Science, a divinely natural phenomenon experienced humanly as the fulfillment of spiritual law. I like the third one best.

Divinely natural. What a concept. What does it mean, exactly? Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." Point well taken. Most of us do not recognize the common as anything but common. As if it had no real significance. But the common is all there is. The stars, the trees, the water, the moon, the dog, the cat, the person. Some in traditional religions think that all of the natural world will be "burnt up" to make way for some kind of perfected, spiritual heaven on earth. But is that necessary? I say no.

The universe is already perfect. But most of the eyes that see it do not recognize perfection. Most people think perfection means to be without flaw, without mistake, without sin. Not so. There is a place somewhere in Asia, I believe-I don't recall the exact location-where the people who weave the carpets always hide at least one flaw in each carpet. The reason? They do not want it to be perfect. To be perfect is to assume the position of Creator. And that seems too egotistical. So in goes the flaw. It says, in essence, "Even though I can create without flaw, I will not. I do not wish to presume upon God. I am not perfect; therefore, my work cannot be perfect, either." On the surface that may seem rather sweet and almost humble. And it's meant to be that way. But in reality, the only way a creative being like humans can become less than perfect in any way is to choose that imperfection. We are born-created, if you will-perfect by a perfect Creator. And perfection-dictionary definition notwithstanding-is not without flaw. Flaw itself is part of the perfect creative process. Since change is the only constant, flaw is absolutely necessary to maintain a healthy process of continuous change. Sin, then, is the mark of perfection. It means "to miss the mark." What would there be to strive for if we always hit the mark squarely? Perfection in the traditional definition, conception, idea, sense, then, is boredom personified. Perfection, in a state of constant change, constant flaw, is joy unspeakable. It gives creation the opportunity to explore itself, to even chastise itself occasionally, to grow, expand, and express in whole new ways moment by moment.

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