Finding Miracles in the Ordinary
Miracles are everywhere—they are found in the mundane, ordinary details of life. A wave crashing on the shore can evoke emotion, reminding us of God’s power and the natural rhythm of creation. Miracles hide in the starry sky, lie in the earth’s soil, and emerge in a stranger’s smile. They cross cultures and move with life’s rhythm, bringing beauty to those willing to notice. Living a Jewish life means noticing and celebrating these little miracles daily.
Mindfulness
I began noticing miracles a couple of years ago when I started making challah. Preparing this ancient bread grounds me. It connects us to ancestors and Jews everywhere. The process is meditative, prayerful, and celebrates our faith. Most importantly, it teaches mindfulness—being present in each moment. Baking challah opened my eyes to miracles in every aspect of life.
I recently found a quote by Polish-American rabbi and author Abraham Joshua Heschel—known for his work with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement—that summed up what I felt about life’s little miracles:
“This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things.”
How wonderful! To me, this quote is about seeing God in acts of kindness and daily moments. A stranger paying for your coffee at Starbucks. The wind in the trees. The feel of sand between your toes. The Divine in a gliding butterfly. Every moment is a miracle if we choose to see it. The Tanakh describes supernatural miracles like the parting of the Red Sea and everyday ones, like God feeding the Israelites with manna after the exile.
Be Amazed by Everything
These thoughts came rushing back to me recently. One morning, as I moved about the house, the simplest details astonished me. I found wonder in sunlight spilling through the kitchen window and across the dining room floor, and I stood mesmerized by resilient sunflowers that had weathered the first frost, kept growing, and now stand tall and proud—reminding me that we, too, can endure setbacks and still thrive. The love I feel every single day surrounds me, and as I took in all this beauty, I felt eternally grateful.
I would like to leave you with one more inspirational quote. It’s by the famed religious leader, philosopher, and theologian Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:
“If we could only stop asking the question, “How does this affect me?” we would see that we are surrounded by miracles. There is the almost infinite complexity and beauty of the natural world. There is the Divine Word, our greatest legacy as Jews, the library of books we call the Bible. And there is the unparalleled drama, spreading over forty centuries, of the tragedies and triumphs that have befallen the Jewish people. Respectively, these represent the three dimensions of our knowledge of God: creation (God in nature), revelation (God in holy words) and redemption (God in history).”
What little miracles are you noticing in your life? They may be as simple as a call from a friend or the beauty of familiar places. These experiences, though ordinary, are blessings and daily messages from God. May you notice and celebrate the miracles around you, wherever you are on this big beautiful planet called earth.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In