Miracles and Magic

I am a fan of the book The Spirituality of Imperfection.  I was leafing it through last night, for some inspiration after a particularly thought provoking guided meditation at my church.  Here’s what I read:

“And miracle, Bill and other early A.A.s knew from their own experience of alcoholism and recovery, is exactly the opposite of magic.  Miracle involves openness to mystery, the welcoming of surprise, the acceptance of those realities over which we have no control.  Magic is the attempt to be in control, to manage everything – it is the claim to be, or to have a special relationship with, some kind of ‘god.’  Spirituality is aligned not with magic and the effort to control, but with miracle, “the wonder of the unique that points us back to the wonder of the everyday.’” {page 118}

I used to have a bumpersticker on my car that read “Expect a Miracle”.  I put it on the car at a time in my life that felt bleak, frightening and filled with uncertainty.  I was clinging to spirituality with all my might.  I must admit, I was also looking for some magic.  some Ju-Ju that would make the bad stuff go away, the disappeared good stuff come back and life to feel steady, secure and normal again.

I learned in that liminal period that several powerful principles used together always create positive results:

• Live life from a place of gratitude
• Practice acceptance – don’t fight reality!
• “Do the next right thing”
• Trust the process (personally I call that trusting God, but my non-God-fan friends might like ‘process’ or ‘Universe’ better)

I heard a show on NPR yesterday about sustainability and climate change.  The scientist being interviewed talked about a phenomenon, of which I’m aware, but had no idea it had a name:  techno-optimism.  I’ve heard this argument from my Dad when we talk about climate change (which, like politics, is perilous turf for our conversations).  I did a Google search to find a quick definition – but I see the results remind me of political conversations:  It’s Good! No, It’s Bad! — but not so much “here’s what it is”.  However, my take is that people who would prefer not to change now are betting on magic – future technology will fix bad things, so don’t worry, be happy.

I don’t think that’s helpful.

My brother and I were talking about some tricky conundrums he solved in fixing his sailboat (I  have to say, my brother can fix ANYTHING! He’s amazing).  He said he was happy that the problem was eradicated, but not happy that it might have involved “FM”.  “Radios? What on earth is FM?”, I asked.  I’ll paraphrase his reply as I like this blog to be non-profane:  Flippin’ Magic

Magic (or Miracles) is not a good strategy.  Back when I was a software developer eons ago there was a popular cartoon showing an application development plan – in the middle was a big box saying “And here, a miracle occurs”.

Why then, do I expect a miracle?

Because over and over and over again I have seen that if I do the next right thing, live from a place of gratitude and trust God that unexpected blessings do appear – often from unlikely sources at just the right time.  Is that part of my strategic planning?

Well, the miracle part per se is not.  But being open to possibility, planning ‘the next right thing’ and not every tiny step for the next ten years, and coming from a place of positive expectations ARE part of the plan.  And you know, so far it’s working pretty well.

How about you?  Are you relying on “FM”? Or are you doing your part and expecting a miracle.  Or maybe – none of the above!  I really want to know!

 

 

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