  Spiritual
This week: Miracles Edited by: Sophy New Year  
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Hi, I'm Sophy New Year ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Are There Miracles?
Ralph Waldo Emerson – “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”
Albert Einstein – “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
The first thing we realize as we consider this question is that miracles are in the eye of the beholder – in other words, it’s a subjective question which relies on how we individually define what a miracle is. The traditional definition of a miracle is “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” That fits well with our understanding of miracles from a religious perspective – an event that occurs which suspends the laws of nature. But there are other definitions as well that do not necessarily involve supernatural intervention. Another definition of a miracle is “a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences.” From A Course in Miracles comes yet another definition of a miracle – “a change in perception.” The world is an illusion created by our minds. Change your mind, and you change the world. Most compelling to me is the definition that comes from the original Latin word, miraculum, which means, simply, “object of wonder.”
From the ancient perspective, in regard to stories like virgin births, healings, resurrections, and other miraculous events, which were common to all early religions, Joseph Campbell says these kinds of stories tended to accumulate and coalesce around spiritual teachers; they were stories meant to say, “Hey, pay attention. This person is special, divine even.” They gave them legitimacy, a reason to follow them. In A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong, she explores the evolving nature of myths, including miracles, through the different eras in the evolution of humanity. According to Armstrong they served a purpose. They were not meant to provide factual information or eye-witness history; their purpose was teach a lesson, and to guide people in understanding problematic aspects of the human condition and the world we live in. So there was no questioning about whether something really happened that way or not – that’s not what was important. What was important was to provide truth and understanding. When we developed a scientific view of history in the 18th Century, we began to be concerned above all with what actually happened. But in the pre-modern world, they were more concerned with the meaning of an event, rather than whether or not it really happened.
For example – Rev. Douglas Taylor points out that in all four accounts of Jesus’ arrest, the story is told of one of his disciples drawing a sword and striking the ear off one of those who came to take Jesus away. In Luke’s version Jesus is reported to have healed the wounded man. In the three other versions Jesus does not heal the injury. It seems as though the healing is not the primary point; the lesson is the point. "Put away your sword." To truly follow the example of this non-violent prophet and healer, you too must be non-violent, compassionate, and just. In this way we are compelled to read the miracle stories in the Bible not as fact or supernatural proof of Jesus’ divinity. We are invited to read them as deeply mythic stories that can help us understand life and ourselves better.
For me, believing something is a miracle doesn’t mean we have to suspend belief in the laws of nature. My personal preference regarding miracles is to see them not in the realm of history and science and logic, but as objects of wonder, which move us to a renewal of spirit. What I consider to be a miracle in my life, you may see differently, depending on how you define a miracle. And that’s okay – it was my experience, it touched me in some way and made an impact on me – and none of that is taken away if you do not consider what I experienced a miracle. Maybe the best way to evaluate a miracle is the effect it has on the person who experienced it.
What stories do you have in your life that lift you or help you move forward? What are the miracles that give you meaning and healing amidst the reality of facts and events of life? These are all miracle stories to me. May we each find ways to encourage the uncovering of truth and light and miracles in our own, and each other’s lives. |
Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review. If you have something you would like me to highlight, please do share it with me, thanks!
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (June 27, 2018)" about Life is Short:
From dogpack saving 4premium 
"THE BELLA OF MY LIFE"
Time is what we have to mark our seconds, minutes, and all the rest. True, what we do with our precious time, and breath of life, which is also a precious gift, is up to us because of having free well which is another precious gift. How we use this time for the benefit of ourselves as well as for others is also up to us. Personally I would rather use my time to help people and give hope and positive direction rather than fight and argue. Certainly a persons definition of what is best is personal, however most people, animals, and nature opt for goodness rather than strife and destruction. Lifting the spirits of people, helping when and where I can is something which gives me the gift of knowing that I have done my best to do good and help as much as possible. Being positive rather than negative is good medicine.
Amen!
      
From Quick-Quill 
Life is too short not to take the chance to write the stories that have clogged your brain. Get them out on paper/computer. When you get to the end of your life and your family says. "I wish you would have written your stories down for us to share with our kids." You'll wish you'd taken the time. Good or bad, family and friends will love them. Some may be shared at your funeral for all to love and get a chuckle. Take the time to share what's in your mind.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts.
From shepherd46
Life's too short--it's gone before you know it.
Life's too short--don't have a fit.
Life's too short--don't complain.
Life's too short--slow down the train.
Life's too short not to enjoy a sunset.
Life's too short not to have a pet.
Life's too short not to enjoy a sunrise
Life's too short not to give someone a prize...
Thank you!
From Legendary❤️Mask 
Life gets in the way way to much not to stop and smell the rose's. It's way to short, never promised, never know when your last breathe is. Remember to always spend it with the ones you love and not to forget to say I love you so much. Even the furry family that we all have. They just want time with us. Marlin and Gunner say and do the same thing. I think it is so precious that they adore us the way you do. "Life's to short not to live! Life's to short not to live it happily your way!" Sophie thank you for sharing my piece.
You are welcome, thanks for your wise words.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophy New Year |
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Spiritual: July 25, 2018 Issue [#9016]
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