At The Crossroads

 I believe we all long and look for magic although we might not always use the same name.  I could just as easily say we all want to see something miraculous, supernatural, amazing or unbelievable.  When we see magic we see the impossible made possible.  For a moment we are given a glimpse of something that is greater then ourselves, something that is beyond our understanding.  We are given hope that more then what we are is possible.

What is magic?   Once upon a time people of various cultures were put to death for practicing magic.  Looking back we learned that they were for the most part just practicing science.  What they could do and know with science did not seem possible and was labelled as magic.  They were able to do something that was impossible according to their culture.  They were doing something extraordinary, amazing, supernatural or should I say magical.

What else is magical?  When a magician performs a trick well, we call it magic.  If we can figure out how the trick was done we don't think it is so amazing.  The key to a magic trick is that it is beyond our ability or understanding and we are fooled into believing they did something impossible.  Most people realize the magician has just learned a clever trick and so we don't usually put them to death.  The trick is magical when the impossible appears to have been accomplished.

Another form of magic is experiential.  There are moments in time when what we see and experience become magical.  We're in the eye of a thunderstorm, surrounded by lightning and time slows as the elements of the storm wash over us.  We're at a live concert and the combination of lyrics and sound seem to carry us away.  We're at an accident and with the aid of adrenaline you lift the car.  All the elements of the situation connect with something inside you and make the moment more than what it is on the surface.

Magic is the crossroads of body, mind and spirit.  When we experience something that defies understanding and touches our souls we have seen magic.  When we skillfully manifest something amazing that we have learned and it comes from our hearts, we perform magic.  When this magic connects with someone else on all three levels, we experience the magic together.  This magic, miracle or supernatural experience provides a pathway to new realms of possibilities and hope.  May we meet at the crossroads.