“The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things,” wrote Hans Christian Andersen. I love this quote by the famous Danish writer, who lived from 1805-1875 – 200 years ago! Learning about the people who came before us and the struggles they went through, helps to keep me grounded during these unsettling times. 

As we are living through a moment that can feel like we are spiraling out of control, it is tempting to look the other way and bury our heads in the sand. It is ever more difficult to find the truth, to separate fact from fiction, and to figure out how to navigate through. Modern technology makes it easier every day to produce stories, pictures, and videos that look real, but are fabrications designed to manipulate emotions. While it would be easier to turn it off, it is vital to remain engaged, think critically, and search to understand the grey areas that challenge our simple notions of black and white.

One statement that I’ve heard repeated is that Canada is “broken.” This statement has been repeated by many people, and of all political stripes, and it is a persuasive device to position the speaker as the saviour – the one who is going to fix our brokenness. Repeated enough times, enough people buy into this, and maybe start to follow this way of thinking. This brings up fear, which sometimes shows its face as anger. Coupling this with misinformation and social media, it can lead to real divisions in our communities, families, and country. 

But is Canada really broken? Sometimes I think we do, like the Hans Christian Andersen quote suggests, become so used to ordinary miracles that we become blind to them. We take for granted the moment that we are living in. I challenge all of us to think about this question. 

I am always amazed when I think about what Canadian farmers accomplish every year. If you think about the sheer number of things that are produced on our farms, the number of moving parts that make that happen, and the number of hands that have gone into turning a seed into a loaf of bread in a store, or a gallon of milk, or a dozen eggs – it is a miracle. 

That tally sheet just touches on the human element of farming. As we all know, nature plays the most vital role, which is nothing short of miraculous. Do we even think about the miracle while planting those hard seeds in the ground and how many of them will transform into a living, growing plant with the potential to increase themselves hundreds of times over? 

I bring up those miracles because they are something most of us, as farmers, can relate to. But miracles are present in so many other areas of our lives. We take for granted the hot water delivered to the places we want it in our homes. We take for granted we have light at the flick of a switch, heat in the winter, cures for illnesses that used to kill us and our children, systems and people that keep it all going. The list is endless. However, sometimes it seems as if we forget all the progress and get bogged down and complaining about the “to do” list, which sometimes seems even more endless. 

As I read and listen to much of what is going on in our world right now, I wonder if we have lost sight of the miracles of everyday life – the miracles of each other, our communities, and our countries. Humans are a complex and difficult species – survival depends on the ability to work together while recognizing the interconnectedness between each other and our environment. It takes many hands to make all of these systems work – if we forget this, we ignore all of those who have put in the hard work over lifetimes and contributed to these everyday miracles. 

Take a look at your own community – I bet you can find miraculous ways that people show up for each other every day. Just as one example, a couple of months ago, I wrote about the Coldest Night of the Year, a fundraiser supporting people experiencing homelessness that was held across Canada in February. While funds are still being donated for this year’s event, as of writing this column, $14,578,978 were raised across Canada. Walks held in Goderich, Exeter, and Wingham raised $285,270, with 483 walkers and 41 volunteers. 

Will this solve the complex problem of homelessness? No. But it tells me that we have strong communities filled with people who care about those who are struggling. It tells me that we are stronger when we work together, remain engaged, and take positive action. 

“Do your little bit of good where you are: it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world,” said Desmond Tutu. Working together, sharing our strengths, and remembering to value our everyday miracles will keep us moving forward in our communities and our country. ◊