Sherry Sterling
Dear friends,
Growing up in the church, I learned about the great things God has done. I wanted to see miracles and signs in our day. But it seemed that I had to content myself with what we had now, the scriptures to look to for proof of God’s works—from back then.
So it jarred me a bit to read today’s Old Testament reading, from Habakkuk:
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy. (3:2)
Even back then? In the days of recorded miracles? A prophet wrote about his having heard of God’s deeds in his past, and wanting them repeated in his day—in likely around 600 BC!
When I was a child, I thought of miracles as actions that overrode how the world usually worked—like defying gravity. Now, I see miracles as actions that challenge how the human heart usually works—like transforming selfishness.
As a child, I didn’t know how much fear and hurt can constrict the human heart. Now, I see what a miracle it is when God’s love reaches out through us, in spite of pain. Now I see miracles of love all around me. Like last week:
People speaking up to misuse of power.
People providing blankets and a ride home to those released into the cold after being wrongfully held and stripped of their belongings.
People choosing to trust in kindness in the face of the horror of kidnapping.
These are wholly holy miracles.
A friend recently shared a song called “Holy Now,” by Peter Mayer.
His refrain: Everything, everything, everything is holy now.
I encourage you to listen to it.
In the meantime, I’ll share what really moved me, in verse two:
When I was in Sunday school,
We would learn about the time
Moses split the sea in two,
And Jesus made the water wine.
And I remember feeling sad,
Miracles don’t happen still,
And now I can’t keep track
Cause ev’rything’s a miracle.
Ev’rything, ev’rything, ev’rything’s a miracle.
I pray to see, or even participate in, God’s miracles today.
Peace and love,
—Sherry