Miracle on Miracles - The Accumulative Power of Small Increments

What would it take to make a major difference in your life?

Recently I thought winning the mega millions lottery would do it. But then I studied it out. There’s a very high probability of divorce, death, kids getting on drugs, kidnap and ransom, unwanted solicitations from anyone who finds out you won the jackpot, family envy and estrangement, survivor’s guilt, depression, and suicide among other things … so it takes an immense amount of luck to win it and even more to enjoy it and not have it ruin your life. At least, that is what the known statistics point to. Of course, the optimist in me said, “yeah, but God, let me give it a go …”

With the lottery out of the picture, I decided to leave the addictive fixation on something-for-nothing and instead dive into my relationship with God who only gives good gifts, and who uses trials and tribulation to tutor, teach, and improve me. 

Three years ago at my first bootcamp, I sat on the scenic Utah mountains with a dusting of snow, looking at the cold pond reflecting the sky, and seeing the Park City valley below. I was talking to God about Adventure and He assured me big things were coming and that big things have already come into my life. I just needed to open my eyes and look around. Be more cognizant and thankful. 

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com

I had written down several very specific goals that cold fall morning and what success would look like. Three years later, this very morning as I sat eating a free breakfast (they had a spin-and-win when I went to buy my breakfast ticket at the casino a few miles from my house), I realized God was showing off. I don’t have my journal in front of me, but as I recall what I wrote, I see little checks and “in progress” indicators in my mind’s eye next to each of those things I wrote down so long ago. 

Which brings me to the title of this blog and one of my favorite songs of late: “Million Little Miracles” by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music. 

“I've got some blessings that I don't deserve. I've got some scars, but that's how you learn. It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I think it over and it doesn't add up, I know it comes from above. I've got miracles on miracles, A million little miracles.”

When I see how the miracles in my life have occurred, very few were instant Big Bang events. Instead, I can connect the dots to a guy I met in an online 12-Step meeting many years ago, who invited me to a boot camp where I met my AZ Band of Brothers and the UU Crew, who invited me to contribute to this blog. The first thing in my boot camp notebook was to start writing about recovery in a public forum. 

I’ve also connected with so many other great men, one of whom I invited to a bootcamp, and who got me a job after I was recently laid off. The day after I was laid off, I was sitting in this exact chair, at the same table, and full of anxiety and fear over how to pay bills. I trusted in God but couldn’t see past the current minute let alone hour or day. Now I sit here and am amazed at the miracles in my life and the lives of those I know. 

The morning I got my new job I had another song pop up on my Spotify radio after Miracles: “New Things Coming” followed by “Always on Time,” both by Elevation. I get a new adventure - and it was exactly on time. Praise Jesus! 

I have many, many more strings like that I can share. I’d love to hear yours in the comments below. 

If you feel you are drowning in a sea of deep water, and you have a storm surrounding you, suffocating you with the water as you are dragged under, I can promise Christ is right there. All you have to do is reach up and grasp. Christ walks on water in the storm. 

Also, reach out to those around you. Be willing to dive in and do the 12-step work of identifying past traumatic events, what you could and could not control, make amends, and begin a life of peace. A good therapist and an army of your own band of bruthas or sistas will get you out of the storm and into shelter, steadily pointed back to the Glory of God and redeeming Blood of Christ. 

I’m thankful for the “miracles on miracles” in my life and I praise Jesus for His Grace, truth, sacrifice, and my free breakfast.