50 Quiet Miracles That Changed Lives

by William G. Borchert

Many of us dream of witnessing a real miracle, an awe-inspiring divine intervention that changes the course of our lives and heightens our belief in a personal and loving God.

Yet, we are often so fixated on the idea of an awesome event that we somehow overlook the quiet little miracles that happen to each of us every day.

The miracles collected in 50 Quiet Miracles That Changed Lives come in all shapes and forms, from unexpected phone calls to chance meetings. They are small enough to simply produce a warm glow and dramatic enough to create awe and wonder.

A father of five witnesses his burning home being saved by bearded strangers with fire extinguishers, who put out the fire and then disappear. A diamond miner in South Africa barely avoids a deadly crash when he is pushed out of a packed elevator at the last minute. A chance meeting leads a woman to the apartment of her closest childhood friend, now dying of AIDS. She helps her friend regain spiritual strength and becomes a surrogate mother to her friend's child.

If we allow ourselves to look beyond the glow and focus on the wonder, we will recognize that, in moments such as these, we are in the presence of God.

264 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2009

Reviews

[Jigme Datse]

This book really touched me deeply. In a way maybe a bit too deeply. It is one of those religious type books that is somewhat more accessible, and somewhat less "one particular religion" unless you consider the cult of 12-step programs to be a religion in itself. Still a lot of this actually came rather close to home. Also I think that some of this might have originated in other sources. Not sure about that.

[Anne Marie]

First and foremost, I picked up this book thinking it was about all kinds of miracles happening to people in their everyday lives. And it was, except for the fact that most of the stories were about recovering alcoholics, AA, and how God led them to become sober and live a better life. Maybe I missed something, but I was kind of disappointed and felt mislead by the cover and even the back of the book summary. Anyway, I couldn’t return the book so I read it and found a few of the stories (which didn’t involve alcohol) very good. Two Bearded Angels helped a family whose house was on fire. God Uses Regular People had a physician having car trouble. While waiting for his car to be looked at he helps a needy woman pay for gas and necessities. God’s Choice became Her Choice- I loved how God led Shari in the right direction in becoming a teacher. A Delayed Miracle - Fr. Felix, wrongly blamed for not giving last rites to a dying husband, 25 years later gives last rites to the wife, telling he forgave her long ago. No Angry Goodbyes - Jerome, a nursing home administrator, gave a mean patient a chance no one else did. His Father’s Secret had Harold’s dying father telling him not to worry his life away. She was Drowning, Really Drowning - a Guardian Angel saves Tina from drowning in the ocean.
So these few stories kept me reading. I hope whoever gets this book next will find it more useful and inspirational.

[Ann-maree]

The miracles collected in "50 Quiet Miracles That Changed Lives", comein all shapes and forms, from unexpected phone calls to chance meetings. They are small enough to simply produce a warm glow and dramatic enough to create awe and wonder. If we allow ourselves to look beyond the glow and focus on the wonder, we will recognize tha, in moments such as these, we are in the presence of God.

[Ken Montrose]

I thought it was well written. On the other the author's insistence that every happy coincidence is really the work of God grew old quickly.