I made a video a few days back in which I talked of Tabitha. Little known. Rarely told. Hugely significant. (This could be my tagline!)
If you didn’t watch the video, here’s the quick recap:
Tabitha dies. Her friends aren’t OK with that and so they send for Peter to come and bring her back to life – which he does. He says, “Tabitha. Get up.” She opens her eyes, takes his hand, and is presented back to her community – the women who love her.
Truth be told, there’s a part of me (and probably you, as well) that struggles with this story because, well, she was resurrected! That seems too good to be true: some made-up story to make the “miracle-worker” himself look better, an ancient version of the snake-oil salesman. But what if we reserved such judgment and instead, allowed the story in its entirety? Even more, what if we could/would allow her story to be ours?!?
What if we allowed miracles into our consciousness, our everyday reality, our lives? Even more, what if we actually
believed that we are one?
That just might change everything. (Kinda like a miracle…)
We’ve been conditioned to think of a miracle as something that is completely outside the realm of possibility. The parting of the Red Sea. Walking on water. The blind and lame healed. And yes, the dead raised to life. But…
What about the miracle that despite our grief and agony and depression and profound sadness, we still hope?
What about the miracle that despite marriages that bind and bruise, we continue to live…and sometimes leave?
What about the miracle of birth in its EVERY form?
What about the miracle of friendship?
What about the miracle that flowers die and the sun goes down and yet both will rise again and again and again?
What about the miracle of opening our eyes to one more day, to taking someone’s hand,
to rising? (Just like Tabitha.)
That is phenomenal and anything but ordinary. That is extra-ordinary. That is who we are. Miracles – each and every one of us. Including you.
So the question remaining is simple:
If you will but allow that miracles do occur, more, that you actually are one, how then will you live?
Where have you hesitated, held back, and played it safe? Where have you not risked, feared misunderstanding, and stayed quiet? What have you not yet written, said, or done? What emotion, passion, idea, brilliance, heart have you not yet let out of the bag? What dance is yet within your bones and song within your lungs? All of these are yours to do, oh miraculous one.
And believe me, I’m right there with you (along with Tabitha, of course).
May it be so.