A green light on miracles

Sometimes I think we miss miracles because we're not looking. Sometimes I think we miss miracles because they are small (in scope or in size, not in importance). But sometimes we see them and that changes our whole day.

Today my day started with a miracle. I got up on time (okay, that was a miracle but not the one I'm thinking of) but somehow ended up running a bit late. So I was driving to work and a little concerned that I'd cut it too close. I'm the teacher this week so it's not like they could start without me.

As I drove towards the first set of traffic lights I would encounter, I looked ahead and saw that the green left-turn arrow was already on and there was only one truck proceeding to turn. "Nuts," I thought, knowing I'd miss the light and have to wait for a rather long interval to catch the next one.

Now, understand - I've been driving through this traffic light for a month now. I know the pattern it takes in the morning. And so I sighed and resigned myself to a longish wait at that intersection.

But then the miracle happened. As I drove towards the light, it didn't change. And it didn't change. I even started to slow down, expecting it to change. I mean, I know the pattern of this light, right? And there was no way I was going to make it.

And then the lights on the through lanes changed to yellow - but still the arrow stayed green. I was now at decision time - do I stop or not? Will it change before I hit the moment of decision? As my foot hesitated over the brake pedal, still the arrow stayed green and the through lanes were about to flick to red. And still the arrow was green.

So I turned. And just as I completed the turn, the arrow changed to yellow, then red.

Now I know angels didn't appear (or did they?), and trumpets didn't sound but it was unexplainable and it was a particularly encouraging blessing to me.

That's a miracle.