“Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand; life itself is the miracle of miracles.”
— George Bernard Shaw
I was on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, attending a business meeting. We had flown into San Juan before transferring to small, six-seater planes for the short flight to the island. It was an adventure in itself, flying in such a small aircraft, with the Caribbean stretching out below us.
We were met at the airport and shuttled to the resort. The scenery was a stunning mixture of lush tropical foliage and simmering blue-green water. Accommodations were scattered throughout the property in small, separate units, creating a feeling of privacy and almost complete isolation. It was a beautiful setting, far removed from the usual surroundings of a business conference.
One afternoon, I had some time between meetings and decided to return to my room and sit outside on the patio. It was one of those rare moments when there was nothing in particular I needed to do and nowhere I needed to be. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement. A mare and her foal had wandered onto the grassy area near my patio. They stopped, lowered their heads, and began to graze, seemingly unaware of my presence.
There they were, two of the island’s free-roaming horses, almost close enough to touch. I held my breath, afraid that the slightest movement might frighten them away. Slowly, I reached for my phone and managed to take several photographs. Neither horse seemed particularly interested in me. They continued grazing, entirely comfortable in their surroundings.
I imagine they were accustomed to sharing the island with its human inhabitants. To them, perhaps, this was simply another afternoon. To me, it was something quite extraordinary. I sat quietly, watching the mare and her foal, reluctant to disturb the moment. Eventually, they wandered away, disappearing as unexpectedly as they had arrived.
I believe miracles happen every day. They don’t necessarily announce themselves or arrive in extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes they appear in the most ordinary moments, asking nothing of us except that we pay attention. I wonder how many of these small miracles we miss because we are too busy to notice.
That afternoon on Vieques, I had nowhere else I needed to be. For a few minutes, I simply sat in the sunshine and enjoyed the company of two wild horses.
And that was enough.
Peace be with you.
If you’re new here, welcome. I write about aging with grace, finding beauty in everyday life, and the quiet moments that remind us what matters most. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by.
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