Miracles Happen – Celebrate the Miracle
One day in the Target parking lot I saw a huge van with oxidized old paint, filled with children. It had a special bumper sticker on it that made me laugh, because it helped me put my own situation into better perspective. It read: “Blessings Happen.”
Blessings had “happened” to me and I knew exactly what they were talking about. I wasn’t driving anything much better. I don’t remember now if it was the older Ford Bronco I was driving at the time or the older Suburban. But if I remember correctly, I had upgraded from the very old Orange Wagoneer, with the paint that would flake into my hair, from off of the top of the door, every time I shut it. That made it a regular ritual to get out of the car and shake out my fairly long hair onto the ground, before going in anywhere.
Miracles happen too! And miracles usually happen before we are fully ready. That is what we experienced when shooting the pictures to be included in the YouTube slide show for Celebrate the Miracle.
We had been preparing things during the day. We spread out a large painting tarp, brought in the straw and began playing around with which beard belonged to which wise man, etc. A relative, whose baby had been selected to be the model for Baby Jesus, was busy caring for the fussy child, while expressing humored doubts about the likelihood of pulling this off.
The baby had been difficult all day. Family “cast members” were deciding who would wear what costumes and I was anticipating that we would spend a half an hour getting everyone dressed and then carefully check them all over and straighten the room before shooting the pics. I was also the photographer and not a very experienced one.
Suddenly the father of the baby said, “If you want to take any pictures you better do it now!” I ignored the comment until it was repeated. Distracting myself from the preparations at hand, I looked over to see the baby in a complete and angelic trance. Everyone recognizing the opportunity, (and also anxious to move on to their other plans,) kicked in to rapidly dress all of the participants and finish setting up.
While all that was happening, I began shooting pictures. I knew things were not perfect. I noticed an enormous pile of day after Thanksgiving Day newspapers down on the floor behind the scene, after I began shooting. There were also some extra costumes sitting off to the side. These did not get moved, because I didn’t dare lose the focus of the group by getting too picky. I already have a reputation for annoying my family with that.
So in a whirlwind we dressed and did the shooting in less than thirty minutes. It was less than fifteen minutes from the time the baby went to sleep. Those of us who witnessed it asserted that we viewed it as miracle. You will have to go to the YouTube link check out the pics of the baby and judge for yourself. After the “miracle” happened the same relative began joking about how much they would collect from me, for the model release of their near perfect child.
The other baby “blessings” that have happened to me, came before I expected and felt completely ready, as well. It has been that way with “blessings” throughout this project too. Miracles and blessings apparently come when God thinks we need to receive them, not necessarily because we expect them or feel completely prepared. It is often after the task is received, that His acceptation of and faith in us helps us to measure up.
