When You Need A Miracle

Every Advent we "head toward Christmas" encountering, early on, Mary and her mess.

Yes, Mary's mess: to be precise, a scandalous pregnancy, as Mary "carries" the very Son of God, out of wedlock, while engaged to "another man," Joseph.  

But note Mary's response:  “My soul glorifies the Lord,” Mary sings. “And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…for the Mighty One has done great things…”  [Luke 1:46-49].   

How can Mary say/sing that; why she's facing one of the messiest, most controversial pregnancies ever,  yet she praises God.  How?  Well, among other things, Mary finds a miracle in the mess, not just misery; translated:  Mary  fixates on  promise, hoping godly hope.

At the heart of Mary's hope is endurance, for miracles seldom happen overnight.   It's interesting:  Noah Webster labored 36 years before compiling his dictionary.   Cicero practiced every day for 30 years, before excelling as an orator.  Plato wrote 9 different drafts before completing The Republic.  And Mary expected, hoped, for 9 long months, before "hope happened," and Mary gives birth to the Son of God. 

The lesson?  Miracles take time; on occasion: miracles do happen rapidly, "right on stage".  But for the most part, miracles happen meticulously, via dogged patience, unending courage.

    

In 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton set out from England to cross Antarctica on  bobsled.    But he never made it.  While nearing Antarctica, his ship Endurance became trapped in ice, sinking in the Weddell Sea.   But the adventure was far from over.  Savaging a lifeboat, Shackleton and a select group moved forward: facing waves 90 feet strong, mountain ranges 10,000 feet high, and a destination 1200 miles away.    But they persevered.  True to their ship’s name, they endured, overcoming incredible obstacles. And in due course they succeeded.   It took them 7 long months,but they succeeded, reaching South Georgia Island, and human help.  Asked to explain such accomplishment, a crew member reflected: “I just kept believing:  I can take one step more.”

Where do you need to believe:  “I can take one step more”; is it in the midst of medical challenge, family challenge, spiritual challenge?  Whatever the specifics, you can take one step more.  

For Mary is right, whatever the specifics, we can focus on hope: the Son of God.  We can glorify the Lord, we can rejoice in God our Savior!  

For the Mighty One has done, and will do, great things, for all of us (Luke 1: 46-49, adapted), as we fixate on Him, and His miraculous work, promised in Jesus-- this Advent season.