Intricate miracles are we, rods and cones arranged to perceive beauty, tiny hairs trembling in the spiraled cochlea arranged to hear music and birdsong and the voice of a friend. Each child, cells rapidly dividing, already programmed with the color of eyelashes and unique swirl of fingerprints, life forming in obscurity before we are even aware.

How God must have enjoyed watching the inventions of telescope and microscope, rejoicing in the gasps of wonder at spinning galaxies and the intricacies of each cell!

Soon Poplar leaves will shimmer in my yard, dandelion seeds will float by carried on parachutes of fluff, and the emerald green of a mallard’s throat will catch my eye just outside my window. Miracles, all. Extravagance lavished where a simple uniformity would suffice. All birthed by a joyful, exuberant God.

Each shovelful of miracles was created to display His glory, nourish life, quench our thirst. Each star shimmering in the distance hiding an explosion of heat and light and uncounted billions of swirling nebulae. Each breath, nourishing the pulsing, rushing cells feeding our very lives from one moment to the next.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)

This life, this breath – it is a privilege, a gift. A miracle. Do you perceive it?