I Believe in Miracles

Much could be missed in one’s life by not being aware of a miracle happening.  I experienced this recently.  I went to McDonald’s restaurant to meet a group of men from our church for a coffee on Tuesday morning, as is our custom.  I was a bit later than the rest, and found there were about 15 already present.  The only vacant chair was directly across the table from a new fellow, and a conversation soon followed to know something about him.

I introduced myself; Keith MacDonald, and he gave me his name.  I learned that he had been a farmer along with his brother, and that they realized that with a better education they would be in a position to apply for other positions.  So, he studied at university and graduated with a major in education and a minor in music.  He taught school for a number of years, played various musical instruments with a Gospel-singing group, and sold life insurance.

That is when I asked the new fellow the name of the company with which he sold insurance, and he said it was The Mutual Life.  Naturally, I responded, saying, “My dad was a salesman for the same company and that he was given the position of manager in the Winnipeg office.”  Of course, that aroused his curiosity and he wanted to hear my dad’s name.  Immediately, one could almost see or hear the cogs turning in his head.

He answered that he had met my dad, and that he had heard very good reports about his work with the company.  In fact, he said, I understand that I am related to him.  “My wife is the daughter of your mother’s brother, Sam.  That would make you a direct cousin of my wife, and because she is your first cousin, I am indirectly, your cousin too.”

We were invited to their place the next evening and had a grand visit.  His wife knew my sisters, and that my brother Ken, and I were doctors.  The dear lady said she was so sorry when my youngest sister, Margaret died.  It was uncanny to hear her call her by name, and the other members of our family as well.  She mentioned each one of my mother’s twelve siblings by name, and told us what she remembered about her aunt Eunice, my mother.  A picture was produced of my grandparents.  Mum’s mother was holding her baby daughter, who was my mother.  Her older sister was standing beside their father.

We will continue our new friendship, which will be easy, as we consider that we are first of all part of the family of God, and secondly, part of the ever-widening family that has encompassed the MacDonald family and theirs.

The astonishing part of this story is that as it was explained to our daughter and her family, they suddenly realized that our own grandchildren, they themselves, have been attending school with the grandchildren of our new-found relatives.  They are “blown away” with the realization that they are cousins of their fellow students.  Fortunately, they are already good friends.

As I reflect upon our meeting at McDonald’s, I see the perfect set-up for the miracle, in that the only vacant chair amongst that group of 15 men, was the one directly opposite the new fellow, who was my unknown cousin.