A couple years ago, my husband and I ran into one of our favorite coffee shops for a caffeine fix. I expected to leave with a vanilla latte in hand. I did not expect to be reminded that God does miracles in His time, in His space.
I really did not expect to find this reminder on a package of coffee. And I especially did not expect this illustration to come from a play in a football game.
See, while we were waiting at the counter for our drinks to be made, I spied a package of “Skol Vikings Blend” coffee near the counter.
We live in Minnesota, where the Vikings are our hometown football team, and that coffeeshop chain had created a special blend in their honor. We are a semi-low-key football family. We watch games every week without fail, mostly because our son absolutely loves the game – loves it – and the Vikings are his team. He used his own money to join the Vikings Kids Club, roots for his beloved Vikes no matter what the scoreboard says, dresses in jerseys and eyeblack whenever possible, and plans to be a Viking when he grows up. He’s brought his sisters into loving the game and has big plans for teaching his baby brother how to play when he’s a little bigger.
My boy has turned me into a fan too — especially of the family time watching the game brings. All that in mind as I stood at the coffee shop counter, I thought it would be fun to bring home some “football coffee,” so we bought the bag of beans along with our lattes and headed back to the car to complete our errands.
Then right there in the passenger seat of our minivan, I teared up as I read the description on the side of the package:
Just like a good cup of coffee, the Vikings have a special way of bringing us Minnesotans together. As we cheer on the team to rock ’em, sock ’em, and fight fight fight each week, we learn that when us Northerners come together as one, there’s not much we can’t accomplish. And that ten seconds is plenty of time for a miracle.
That last sentence, right on the back of the bag of coffee beans, stopped me right in my tracks.
In 2017, during a game — the final ten seconds of the game, to be exact — Minnesota Vikings player Stefon Diggs caught a twenty-seven yard pass and ran it to the end zone for a touchdown as the clock ran out. The announcer went absolutely wild (as did the stadium), and he excitedly hollered that it was “a Minneapolis miracle.” The title and clip of the play went viral — you can see the “miraculous” play here. I vividly remember this game, mostly because my husband whooped so loud that our football-loving son got out of bed and came downstairs, and then we let him stay up and watch the replay.
Ten seconds is all it took for this play to make record books, to get millions of hits on the internet, to be called a miracle, to change history for a few folks.
And isn’t that so reminiscent of the true miracles of God?
How long did it take for Jesus to do His miraculous form of multiplication with a few loaves and some fish? How about when He swapped water for wine? With crowds gathered in both of those locations, hungry and thirsty, I can’t imagine that Jesus took a long time making these miracles happen. People were waiting.
Sometimes God keeps us waiting. Other times, all He needs is ten seconds.
Okay, so I’m not actually comparing the “Minneapolis miracle” to those listed in Scripture, but it did remind me to take pause and remember how many times the miracles in life have taken very little time — when the car stops just in time to avoid being hit by an oncoming car, when I catch my toddlers’ hand just before the van door closes on it, when the diagnosis comes in and they say it was caught in the nick of time, when the phone call is made minutes before the decision comes through and the conversation changes the final decision. You know what I mean? How many times have we cut it too close for comfort and whispered, “Oh, thank you God!”?
And that’s just the protection kind of miracles.
When I raise my eyes from this computer, I see my four children who are absolutely miraculous in their own right, especially considering the years of infertility and miscarriages that came before and alongside them. All people, really, are total miracles. So very many things have to happen correctly in order to fully develop a human being, with all neurons firing, bodies forming, hearts beating. Each person is a miracle, right there in plain sight.
And then to look outside my window and see the blue sky, the frosted trees, the wonder of snowflakes — each one entirely unique. To hear music pouring from my speakers, artists gifted with both word and voice. To enjoy the transformation coffee goes through as the beans are ground and hot water is poured through. To watch the way ingredients come together, changing from eggs and flour and butter into warm cookies (anyone else think of that scene/quote from Friends? “Ten minutes ago this was all just ingredients!”) To hold a loved one’s hand. There are more miracles in plain sight, beckoning to be seen.
So today, I raise my mug to you. Here’s to the ten-second miracles all around us. May we see them for ourselves. May we be them for one another.
Ruth Mills says
God’s working in the details that we get glimpses of are such a gift! And then all the details He is in that go unseen just boggle my mind growing my faith roots deeper & fatter. May we not take the 10 second miracles for granted! Thank you for this encouraging illustration!
Madeline says
Anna, that was incredibly beautiful. I don’t know what else to say. I am all teary eyed. Thank you.
Melissa says
So encouraging! Thank you for this reminder!
Tamara says
This is beautiful Anna… miracles… all around us.. God spoke and look what He created.. so good, so good. May we embrace, open our eyes too and be grateful for the many miracles that are all around us.. each and every moment of each and every day! God bless you!
Susen says
Thank you for this perspective. Our church priest once said, “where do you see heaven on earth?” The blessings and the miracles are all around us we just have to be open to them.
Thank you for a wonderful article.
God bless!
Donna says
Anna, thank you for this reminder that miracles are happening all around us. May we never lose the wonder of God’s love and power!
Irene says
Anna, this whole post just sparkles! Bravo! We need to stop and marvel each time God drops a miracle in our path. That’s going to be a new goal.of mine.
Patti Nicolson says
Beautiful!
Maura says
Makes me think of my favorite line from the Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ” a person can stand just about anything for 10 seconds, then you just start on a new 10 seconds. All you’ve got to do is take it 10 seconds at a time.”
Mary says
Happy Friday Anna. Thank you for the beautiful reminder of the 10 second miracles all around us. May we always be looking in anticipation for them. Your two young boys are adorable in the picture. God bless you and your family. ❤ Mary
Paula says
Thank you for reminding me that the miracles are in life every single day and I need to be open to them. 10 second miracles .. I will be keeping my eyes and my heart wide open to them and thanking God for each of those 10 seconds. Anna, this reflection was absolutely beautiful and a great reminder that miracles are a part of my life always and forever.
Christine says
I love this message Anna! What an amazing perspective. You are spot on and I’m so moved by the way you have captured the heart of God in the everyday. HE is there with us and we need to be more aware of all HE is doing.♥ Christine
Louise Galego says
Thank you, Anna, for reminding us that there are indeed miracles in sight beckoning to be seen. Your piece is written so lyrically and inspiring. The photo of your beautiful children made my heart smile.
Blessing,
Louise
Olivia says
Thank you for this awe inspiring message. Mustard seed faith, tiny miracles bring about abundant grace and overflow of blessings. Praise God for the masterpieces of you, me, mankind, and all creation. Our God is an awesome God. Alpha and Omega!!!
Beth Williams says
Anna,
One of my husband’s ex co workers has a miracle child. It wasn’t a year old & was diagnosed with eye cancer. They had to go to Memphis (across the state) to St. Jude’s hospital. It took about 1–2 years but the little one is finally alright & was able to celebrate her first Christmas last year. That is just one of many miracles I can think of. Each day we wake up healthy is another chance to witness more miracles. The gorgeous Smoky Mountains, sunshine, beautiful colors in fall all are manifestations of God showing me His miraculous power & love.
Blessings ::)