An atheist believes in miracles!

Not what you may think, however. Let me explain. Of course, I'm the atheist in this story. I believe all the rest of the people in this story actually believe in god at some level but I, myself, do not. But we all still love each other; more power to us!

My wonderful cousin, J. and her equally wonderful husband, D. just had a baby on Monday. Yup. Valentine's Day. "So what?" you may ask. "People have babies all the time." Well this baby and the baby's parents have a story that is rather unique. No, the birth/labor/pregnancy, etc. were all normal and uneventful. No problems during any of it. The baby is perfectly healthy and J. has come through with her health and in flying colors. No, what made this story unique is that D. and J. invited us to attend them at the birth. Yup. That's right. We were there for the whole thing.

Now, from the very beginning, which is to say, several months ago, we have been excited about the prospects of being able to attend. We were honored beyond compare by the mere invitation. My wife and I were given the great privilege of being asked to video tape the delivery and participate and assist in any way possible. The excitement built up to Monday when we finally got the call, 9:30 a.m. My wife and I went running. Cops could have written us a dozen tickets and we arrived at their house a short time later.

Oh! I didn't mention that yet! Yeah, they did the labor and delivery in their home. Two professional midwives were in attendance and took care of all the "important" things J. wasn't doing herself. J. decided at the last minute that she didn't want ANY video so that didn't happen. When I was first told that there would be no video I got the idea in my head that I'd be able to park my ass in a chair with a bag of popcorn and a beer and watch the show!

Naive, I know.

There was a ton of stuff to be done. We just did it. All five of us, attending to J. as she went through the labor. Completely successfully, too. She was a champ beyond compare and she became a hero to me that day. So did those two midwives. So did D. So did my wife. My estimation of the quality of the character of all involved, including myself, I must add, has risen dramatically. Yeah, I threw in with the rest of 'em. There was no chair or popcorn or beer for me. Just a labor of love on my part to help in any way I could. To say I "enjoyed" it would be an understatement more severe than any other in history, I assure you. It was an experience beyond any other.

And it has changed me. I don't entirely understand how, yet. I'm still trying to understand all of it. I'm trying to sift through my feelings on the matter. I'm still in the throes of more intense emotion than I've ever felt before in my life. Indeed, the birth of their child and our role in participating in it has become the focal point of a great deal of my life's thoughts, my philosophies, my outlook on life and my inner self.

But all in all, the result of whatever changes have occurred are a greater peace within me.

Oh, and the miracle of it all? Most assuredly it is a miracle. I'm still an atheist and I don't believe miracles come from a deity, but indeed, the birth of their child is a miracle beyond compare. I'm completely awed by it.

--Wag--