While looking through a book titled This Incredible World: The Wonder of Being Alive published by Norcross Books I read this poem by Walt Whitman:
Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sights over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods, Â Â
Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring; Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
 These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.
To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same.
To me the sea is a continual miracle, Â Â Â Â
The fishes, rocks — the motion of the waves — the ships with men in them, Â Â Â
What stranger miracles are there?
This really spoke to me. It made me think of Albert Einstein’s famous quote which said: “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.â€
It becomes clear that how we view the world, we walk and move in, is a matter of simple choice. Michael A Singer in The Unteathered Soul said this: “Do you want to be happy, or do you not want to be happy? It’s really that simple.†Isn’t that really the bottom line?
The Buddha taught us that it is human nature to suffer, but just because that is our natural, or you might even say our default position, that can not mean we are unable to rise above that norm.
Also in The Unteathered Soul Singer stated: “The highest spiritual path is life itself. If you know how to live daily life, it all becomes a liberating experience.†What is the point of life if we can’t learn to rise above our default, natural behaviors?
We have a choice, we can claim that it is just human nature to suffer or we can decide that we are going to take all that life throws at us and recognize it for the miracle it is. Who can possibly find time to suffer when they are busy naming the very air they breathe “miraculous?”
8 comments
I believe you do love each and every one of us. I know you are loved in return, Elliott. Please continue to share with us. Today, I needed this reminder. Even a trying time is a miracle of overcoming and learning and just being. I am and I am grateful.
Thank you Charlene. I am so grateful to Georgia for introducing us. You have blessed my life in many miraculous ways ever since I have known you.
Just this morning, as unloving thoughts tried to take root in my mind – I looked into the mirror – straight into my eyes and said to myself “I don’t choose this!” I did my morning meditation and readings, then on the way to work I listened to Mike Dooley’s ”
Even More Notes From the Universe.” I noticed I had a mantra going – thank you, thank you, thank you….over and over. My unwarranted angst and judgement did not triumph over my choice to allow love…I printed out Gandhi’s Prayer for Peace and posted it above my desk. As you write here, today I am very aware that I can have miracles or I can have misery – the choice is up to me. Today I have chosen to have miracles! Thanks Elliott!
Thank you dear Eve. It is so easy for us to just run autonomically and drop back into our habitual patterns and the accompanied stress, worry and suffering of all types. Thank you for being the blessing you are and reminding me that miracles are as simple as the beautiful relatives who grace our lives.
This morning unfolded like most do. The alarm rang at 6, I got up and got dressed and prepared for the day. Made coffee, warmed it extra hot. Then, in the early dawn light, still dark inside, it happened. The power went off. No apparent reason. No storms in the area, no transformers humming. Just no electricity. After unplugging a few things in anticipation of a possible power surge when the power returned, I was presented with an unbelievable, beautiful gift. Absolute silence. Quiet. No humming of clocks or refrigerator. Just silence. it was wonderful, and since my coffee was hot, I was quite happy to just sit and enjoy. (And answer the multiple calls from neighbors asking if we had power.) So it was, in a very amazing way, my morning miracle. I loved every minute of this 45 minutes. :-) Hugs dear Elliott!
Thank you Karen. Yes even in the unexpected miracles abound. Thank you for sharing your lovely story. I love and appreciate you.
I am so moved by this article.
Seeing the miracle in life, in everything is the greatest gift you can give yourself. You have illustrated that so beautifully here.
With love
Jess
Thank you so much Jess. I somehow am just now seeing your comment.
It means a lot to me that you took the time to read the post and to share your feedback.
I love and appreciate you.