A glimpse of blue and white and long, spindly legs had caught our eye, and we stopped to marvel at the great blue heron, tall and proud as he surveyed the lakeside from his sunken log perch.

Another group of walkers came down the trail, and they slowed to see what had drawn us from our brisk morning march. “Oh, it’s just a heron,” one man said, disappointed. “They’re as common as sparrows these days.”

And they disappeared around the bend, too busy to pause, to notice the firm earth stretched beside the waters, to feel the wonder of their own strong steps, to give thanks for warm clothing, to rejoice at the ability to open their eyes, to rub the slumber from their eyelids, to see on this morning the wonders that surround us with every dawn.

Miracles. They’re as common as sparrows these days, and we bless You for every one.

---

On “daily miracles”: Our morning prayer service contains a series of blessings collected under the heading Nisim b’chol yom, “for daily miracles.” Jewish liturgical tradition would have us begin each morning with gratitude for all the little things–waking up, getting dressed, beginning to move–that are, in truth, not so little.