These are the first 2 items on my Miracle list from DAY #40 (3/6/11):

1. Today being day 40 since I first started making “Miracle Lists.” I guess that’s a miracle in and of itself. I think I missed making one for some reason, but I’ve been pretty consistent. I know we haven’t been e-mailing the lists yet for 40 days, and I think that’s even better than just making them for myself, but even making them for myself felt helpful somehow.

2. Feeling like there’s at least one tiny area in my life that I’m somewhat organized and consistent – making miracle lists – even when the rest feels like it’s falling apart….

I wrote this right before leaving to spend a week with my niece in early March, at which time I continued to make lists on paper each day because I had no good computer access that week. When I got home, I started e-mailing my lists again to my “miracle partner”, but right after that she went out of town, and got sick, and stopped making and e-mailing lists. I continued by myself until she felt better, and then we met and talked about it, and agreed to continue for at least 40 days, but I guess she still wasn’t up to it, and was disappointed because she could detect no miracles, and she gave up again, and then I gave up. So even though I did it for more than 40 days, we never did manage 40 days of e-mailing the lists back and forth. And even though I saw some benefit to continuing on my own, I just wasn’t able to manage it. The accountability of having a partner really did help me.

I think I was a little bit resentful that she was the one who had been so anxious to try this, and then that she was the one who gave up on it. And I think she was perhaps a bit resentful that I never did the written exercises in the book (I was thinking it would be more than enough of a miracle to accomplish the some of the goals I’ve already set here on 43 Things), and that I didn’t write enough about my difficulties and setbacks in need of a miracle (she was probably right). But I am grateful that we gave it a try, and I know her life is very busy right now.

I wrote a little more about the Project Miracle book we used here on All-consuming

Oddly enough, my spiritual formation group had a similar written assignment for the past month or more, but they had a different name for it: The Daily Examen. I don’t do it every day, but I have been trying to do it at least once a week, and writing it in my journal. I find it helpful when I take the time to do it.

I came across this quote recently, and I believe it may belong under this goal:

“Karl Rahner was once asked whether he believed in miracles. His answer: ‘I don’t believe in them, I rely on them to get through each day!’ Indeed, miracles are always present within our lives. Are we?” – Ron Rolheiser.

I do think an exercise like this can help us to be present within our lives, and that that’s a good thing. And it is at least a small miracle that I didn’t try today to hang on to my 40+ old list files today! lol. 23 months ago

I got into a bad way at the end of March/beginning of April, and had another dodgy month emotionally. I have the book out, so that I can read it, instead of listening to the CD, and am going to try not to miss a day (even though I’ve been better, I’m PMS’ing, and I need it). 2 years ago