When Pigs Fly

Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As Jesus stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”—for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:26-39 

When the impossible becomes possible - when pigs fly. Being very practical can get in the way of expecting miracles. I have spent a week sitting by my husband's hospital bed, watching fight a raging infection and praying for relief for him. They have changed the antibiotic many times, and some progress has been made. And now it's time for pigs to fly, for miracles to happen, so he can come home and heal.

The poor young man, so tortured and ill, was made whole and pigs flew. Unfortunately, the miracle upset the normal balance of life in his village. Normal was him being a menace to himself and to others. We humans can get very used to what is not healthy and our local crazies. When miracles happen we are often unprepared for the new reality. We are invited today to prepare our hearts for miracles and welcome them when they come our way. Those healed and renewed have been in bondage way too long.

Today I ask God to open my heart to the many miracles around me today. May we always be ready to be transformed changed and healed. May today be a day when pigs fly and miracles happen in our sight.