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Miracles and Magic-What’s the Difference?
As a kid maybe you listened to two stories about boys and giants: Jack and the Beanstalk and David and Goliath.
In both stories the hero is the little guy — the underdog. In both stories they are confronted with a big, ugly giant. Both David and Jack are likely to become wealthy heroes if they defeat the giant. Jack will get the goose who lays golden eggs. David will get to marry the princess, be best friends with the prince and maybe be king one day.
Both David and Jack outsmart the giant and bring him down.
Both stories carry lessons for life: don’t underestimate the little guy. Don’t work harder, work smarter. There are big ugly giants in the world who are greedy and cruel, and it is our job to fight them. The little weapons are often the most effective, and go with God to defeat the giants in your life that scare you to death.
In every society down through history the story tellers were also the preachers and prophets. The stories they told were legends, myths and fairy tales. Very often the stories had magical elements. A fairy godmother, a witch or a wizard would appear to help or hinder the hero. These stories help to unify the community, teach life lessons and open the child’s heart and mind in wonder at the world and the mysterious workings of that greater power.