Embracing Miracles: Balancing Rationality with Wonder

How Life's Unpredictable Moments Can Teach Us to Appreciate the Extraordinary

Do you believe in miracles? I cannot say I do, but there are several incidents in my life that has questioned my rational approach to miracles. Let me recount a couple of them.

A Walk that Saved a Life

The first incident happened when our child was just a few months old. We were living in the United Kingdom, and I was working for the National Health System (NHS). One afternoon, my surgical list was unexpectedly cancelled, so I came home early. It was a pleasant day, so we decided to put the baby in the pram and go for a walk. About ten minutes into our walk, we heard a loud noise, like a firecracker. We were curious but continued our stroll, returning home 30 or 40 minutes later to find our neighbourhood buzzing with activity. A fire engine was parked in front of our house, and people were streaming in and out of our home, which we had locked and left. We soon learned that some cylinders stored near our house had exploded, shattering the glass windows and door into our baby’s room. Our neighbours, horrified and aware of our baby, had called the fire brigade.

How do you explain why my surgical list got cancelled that day? Why did we decide to go out for a walk?

A Child's Instinct Saves herself

The second incident occurred while I was performing surgery. I received a call that my car, with my wife and child inside, had been involved in an accident. Unable to leave immediately, I asked a colleague to go to the scene. Just as I finished the surgery, my colleague called to say that both my wife and child were safe. But the car was totally damaged. The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the car to go over the median and crash after hitting a lamp post. Miraculously, just five minutes before the crash, my child, who was sitting in the front seat without a seatbelt, felt sleepy and moved to the rear seat, to her mother's lap. When the impact occurred, she fell between the front and back seats, cushioned and unharmed.

How do you explain why my child felt sleepy at that point in time and decided to go back to the rear seat?

Do I believe that these are miracles?

Logic and Wonder: The Timeless Controversy

In our brains, there is a rational part that requires evidence to accept information that aligns with logic. Science emphasizes the importance of evidence in understanding our surroundings. We are conditioned to reject ideas that do not adhere to reason.

 Some say, like a religion that believes that their God is the only God, science makes us believe that this is the only approach and anything that does not stand to scientific scrutiny is unacceptable and as a result non-believers are ostracised.

We should probably take a softer approach with the non-believers. For, Isn't life itself a miraculous journey? Recently I had the opportunity to share my daughter’s experience of becoming a mother. Witnessing the pregnancy progress and observing the baby's growth in ultrasound scans made me wonder at the miracle of a human baby developing from just two cells. And as I see this little human being learning and growing at such a rapid pace, I cannot but wonder what a miracle the human existence is.

The Middle Path: Appreciating Miracles Without Abandoning Science

I am not for a moment suggesting that we leave the path of science and reason and go back to the era of superstition. But savouring the moments of miracles that happen in our lives is not a sin. Instead of straightjacketing ourselves into one single approach, this will make our lives less stressful and more interesting.

From these and other experiences, I have come to understand that in life, we do not call all the shots. There are so many factors that are not in our control. Some known; many unknown. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to witness miracles, while other times we are not as lucky and face challenges instead.

It is in these unexpected moments that we must try to find a balance between our rational minds and the miracles that life presents. The concept of miracles does not necessarily oppose scientific understanding; rather, it can complement it by reminding us of the wonder and unpredictability of existence. Maybe, if we embrace both science and the possibility of miracles, we will lead a more enriched and fulfilling life.

The Importance of an Open Mind

As we become older and navigate through life, holding onto a sense of childhood wonder can be incredibly liberating. It allows us to appreciate the beauty of the unknown and to remain open to the extraordinary. Whether it is the serendipitous cancellation of a workday that leads to saving a life, or a child's instinct that averts disaster, these moments teach us to cherish the unexpected.

An open mind is crucial, not just in accepting the possibility of miracles but in all aspects of life. It encourages us to be more empathetic, more understanding, and more importantly, resilient when we face hardships. By acknowledging that we do not have all the answers, we become more adaptable and better equipped to face life's challenges.

So, do I believe in miracles? Perhaps I do, but not in the traditional sense. I believe in the miraculous nature of life itself, in the unforeseen events that shape our journeys, and in the resilience of the human spirit. By making space for both the rational and the miraculous, we can allow ourselves to live more fully and appreciate the richness of our experiences.

This beautiful song by ABBA (I have a dream) says, "I believe in angels." Those angels may not be divine beings, but just moments of serendipity, or simply the inner strength we find in times of need. And they remind us that life is full of wonder. And in that wonder, we find the courage to dream, to hope, and to persevere.