From the Mundane to the Miraculous
Miracles, like death, have a way of shaking us out of our stupor.
We can’t help but see the world in a new way.
-The Miracle Collectors
Happy Fall! As the leaves change, perhaps we recognize a change within ourselves as well. Maybe it’s the start of a new school year, or the incentive to move from summer vacation mode to tackling projects that have been put off, or even beginning a new job or volunteer position. Things seem to start up in the fall, but as Joan recounts, things also come to an end. And when they do, it is the perfect opportunity to reassess and readjust our miracle mindset.
Collecting Miracle Moments One Story at a Time.
Joan and Katie
As I age, one of the things I contemplate is how our lives are lived in stages. If Act 1 is made up of our childhood and educational years, and Act 2 is filled with fulfilling our professional and personal life goals; then how should we live Act 3? It’s a question that’s popular on any number of self-help sites.
Stories of people who have successfully navigated the second phase of their lives and contributed to society in their chosen profession have always fascinated me. This is especially true when in retirement these same people tackle a new initiative with gusto. For the most part in Act 3, these projects seem to be near and dear to peoples’ hearts, letting their passion dictate their actions. Maybe it's a desire to make a difference in the world as well as a way to leave a legacy.
I’ve probably been giving this a lot of thought lately as Katie and I have mourned of the death of a priest friend of ours. Father Mike Russo taught at the local college in the small town where Katie and I met 30 years ago. He preached at our local church and over the years we came to know him personally. He was a big believer in miracles and supported our miracle quest from the beginning. As he retired from teaching, his own third act took shape. An avid communications fan and media expert, he wondered how he might bring his gifts to help others. He saw a void in ministerial preaching and thought he could help make it better. He created a nonprofit production company, Sunday to Sunday, with the goal of finding good preachers across the country, identifying commonalities, and getting the church hierarchy to take notice. His passion came alive and he was good at it - even winning a coveted Emmy award! Amidst new fund raising plans and with high anticipation for the future, he passed away suddenly, seemingly in good health and oblivious to the tumor growing inside his brain.
In contemplating his death the message that speaks to me is simple - it’s the importance of letting our light shine, following our heart, and remembering that every day is a gift. These are messages that have been an integral part of my own miracle journey. Like most of us, Fr. Mike would say this third act is just the next phase of life, no big deal. And yet as author Ella Frances Sanders reminds us, “If you’re not watchful, the wonderful is made mundane. But on a good day the mundane can be made miraculous.”
Death is an every day part of living, and yet once death has come for someone we care about, it is a reminder that we are all mortal and our time here on earth is limited. And so, it is with gratitude that I am able to acknowledge the importance of the contribution that each of us can make in the world, and how in our own way we all have the capacity to encompass the miraculous. Living our lives fully throughout our third acts is both our challenge and our reward. (Joan)