Make My Day - Joan
by Miracle Chasers on 11/27/19
For part of the year, I live next door to Carmel, CA where Clint Eastwood is a fixture. In 1983, he spoke the words made famous by his character Dirty Harry, "Go ahead, make my day." In point of fact, Clint makes any number of people's day by his casual appearance around town as he goes about his day-to-day life. Instead of the intent in Dirty Harry's signature phrase, I prefer to think about what would it take to make someone's day in a good way?
In miracle jargon, we call this being the miracle. Sometimes we are the right person in the right place at the right time in someone else's life. We have a unique opportunity to make their day, or their year, or even change their future. For the Pilgrims, this was Massasoit, the Sachem aka Chief, and his Wampanoag tribe who helped them survive.
Growing up in Massachusetts, Thanksgiving was a big deal. When every six years or so it coincided with my birthday (like it does this year) I thought I hit the jackpot. I considered it my own personal miracle; it felt that special. I loved the concept of celebrating all that was around us, from nearby Plymouth Rock, to the parade on TV, the bountiful food, and the family we were able to see before the stormy December weather in New England restricted our travel.
I now realize that being grateful is only part of the Thanksgiving celebration. The rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say, is that while Thanksgiving begins with gratefulness, the real point is in recognizing that sometimes we are called to be the miracle for those whom we encounter. This message hasn't changed over the centuries, and is the same, whether we go looking to offer assistance, or whether those in need just show up at our door, or on our shore, or in our life.
**Massasoit Great Sachem of the Wampanoags
Protector and Preserver of the Pilgrims, 1621
You, our readers, have been the miracle for us. You have inspired us, humbled us and led us to this new adventure on our miracle chase journey. Your honesty, your willingness to share, your vulnerability and your strength in the stories you have told us is a gift for which we will be forever grateful. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving. (Joan)
