Not a miracle:
The World Trade Center cross is not a miracle. Support beams are generally connected at right angles. It seems rather unlikely that there would NOT be two connected beams in the shape of a cross found at the site. Finding a Star of David amidst the rubble? Now that would have been more remarkable. The planes, poof, disappearing immediately before hitting the towers, with all of their inhabitants safely transported to the ground? Yes, far more indicative of a divine presence.
Even more clearly not a miracle:
Stunning events that look as though they must have some sort of profound meaning aren’t even necessarily pleasant. Children being struck by lightening and killed while praying at cross? Oh, come on now. Clearly an anti-miracle.
Just plain amusing (and often entrepreneurial!) "miracles":
A bar manager in Switzerland has announced plans to sell an oyster shell resembling the face of Jesus Christ, according to local media.
- Original Article
A decade-old toasted cheese sandwich said to bear an image of the Virgin Mary has sold on the eBay auction website for $28,000.
- Original Article
A US hospital has asked the Catholic Church for help after being swamped by thousands of people seeking to view what they believe is an image of the Virgin Mary in a third-floor window.
- Original Article
A fish with markings that resembled a Koranic text has been found by Kenyan officials after vanishing from the fisheries office where it was stored.
- Original Article
A pet shop owner has found the markings on one of his tropical fish appear to spell the word "Allah" in Arabic.
- Original Article
Forget the Virgin Mary on toast - Juan Pastrano claims to have found the face of Jesus etched into his frying pan.
- Original Article
Hundreds of Muslims are flocking to a small terraced house in West Yorkshire to see a tomato which they believe carries a divine message from Allah.
- Original Article
Personal Miracles?
I woke up this morning, which means that I didn’t suffer from a heart attack, stroke, or the wrath of an ax murderer. My car started, I didn’t drive off the side of the road, and the truck that was considering merging into me on the freeway didn’t (after a sharp honk on my horn). This was all quite dandy. However, I also didn’t win the lottery (this would have been truly a miracle, seeing as I don’t play the lottery and generally refer to it as “a tax on people who are bad at math”), stumble upon the meaning of life (I hope to trip over it one day), or even find my favorite shoes (though I wished really darn hard!). Overall, I feel I am receiving miraculously mixed signals.
Maybe...
People who look for miracles find miracles. This isn’t a proof of a divine presence. This is just an indication that people are seeing and interpreting the world the way that they want to see and interpret it.
I’m not arguing against optimism. I’d personally rather notice the little clump of violets by the side of the road than the pile of dog shit lying just a few yards away. However, I don’t deny that shit does exist, nor do I assume that the presence of the violets is indicative of a higher plan or a divine being fond of the color purple. It’s all life, unpredictable, wonderful, terrible, and messy... we can take from it, and make of it, what we will. That still doesn’t make it a miracle... though if you find something that looks like one, you might be able to make $28,000.
