Participation is Mandatory

In case you hadn’t heard the miracle in Missouri, on August 4, 2013 a drunk driver crossed the center-line and struck the vehicle Katie Lentz was in head-on. Local rescue crews spent 45 minutes after the accident trying to get Lentz out of a car to no avail. With Ms. Lentz pinned in between the steering wheel and the seat, medical workers told rescue crews that Katie was failing and fast. Katie then asked rescue workers to pray out loud with her.

Mysteriously, a Catholic priest came and offered a prayer. A sense of calmness came over her and the rescuers were told remain calm, that their tools would now work and Ms. Lentz would be freed from the vehicle. After that prayer, rescuers were able to finish the extrication. After getting Katie safely into the air evacuation helicopter, at least a dozen of the rescue workers turned around to thank the priest who was nowhere in sight. First responders had said they were convinced the mystery priest was sent from above.

Almost all attributed the Catholic priest to be a miracle. But it wasn’t. I always figured there was a priest. And it turns out that priest none other than Reverend Patrick Dowling.

Mr. Dowling stated, “I have no doubt the Most High answered their prayers and I was part of his answer, but only part,” the Rev. Patrick Dowling told ABC News Monday.

The real miracle lies within us. The real miracle is that God works many of His miracles through each of us. We are so interconnected, intertwined and spiritually significant. Our power is strong in numbers, when we find commonality and connection. Each of us is loved and needed.

Simply put, to perform miracles, participation is mandatory.