by David Harp
Chapter 45
Defining Miracles
The world teetered on the brink of chaos during the early part of the twenty-first century. Every disgruntled outcast, radical organization or mentally unstable psychopath was inspired by the 9/11 attacks. A group known as ISIS soon commanded the mantle of hatred. The new reality was that a few determined terrorists could cause widespread fear and destruction.
At the same time, those fortunate enough to be part of the ORION Institute were witnessing technological advancements and social engineering on an unprecedented scale. Fear of climate change, pandemics and social unrest was gripping much of society, but the QBIFI was predicting a bright future. It seemed like there was no problem the Institute couldn’t solve until the scientists, staff, and students underwent a very personal test of faith.
It could be argued that the most vital person at the Institute wasn’t an archaeologist, professor, or genetically gifted individual. It was Noreen. Her modest personality, Master’s degree in psychology, and unrivaled ability to empathize with people made her the perfect choice as the Institute’s Wellness Counselor.
Claude relied on her unique talents from the day they were married, but for twenty years Noreen had served as surrogate mother for students, negotiator for instructors, and therapist for overwhelmed scientists. Her combination of intelligence, charm, warmth and genuine compassion made her the indispensable glue holding the organization together. No one on campus was loved by more people than Noreen.
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“There is no longer any doubt, you have stage four ovarian cancer,” the doctor told Noreen after surgery. Claude leaned over her bed and melted into her arms with tears streaming. Noreen caressed and reassured him, “We’ll get through this together.”
It was no surprise that she was the one giving comfort.
The cancer continued to grow after four months of chemotherapy. Steve and the staff of the Department of Genome Sciences was devoted to finding an effective gene therapy, but research would take time Noreen didn’t have.
Claude wondered, if the smartest people and the most advanced technology in the world can’t help her, what’s left?
He left Noreen long enough to find Haley and beg, “You’ve got to help her.”
“What can I do?” Haley asked.
“Anastasius said you have the power to heal. You just don’t know it yet.”
Claude was trembling and his eyes were filled with a look of desperation bordering on insanity. Haley took a deep breath.
“Okay, I’ll do what I can.”
Claude took her hand as they rushed to the room where Noreen was resting.
“You can do this, I know you can!” Claude said.
Haley placed her palms on Noreen’s chest and began concentrating, envisioning the cancer cells melting away. Noreen shuddered and woke up with a huge gasp like someone struggling for air.
“What happened, what’s going on?” she asked.
“How do you feel sweetheart?” Claude asked.
Noreen sat up and stretched. “Better than I’ve felt in months,” she said smiling. “What did you do?”
“We brought in a specialist,” Claude proudly answered with his hand on Haley’s back.
“Let’s not read too much into this,” Haley whispered with obvious discomfort. “We don’t know what or if anything has changed. I don’t think we should jump to any conclusions until the doctors run tests.”
Despite Haley’s caution, Noreen was up and moving around with renewed energy. She and Claude were both convinced the cancer was gone. Claude ordered tests and exams, but was confident the results would be negative.
His optimism was short-lived. The tests showed a significant improvement in Noreen’s overall health, but the cancer remained. Claude ordered additional tests, but the results were the same.
A week later, Claude was talking with Noreen at the gazebo beneath the Tree of Life. “This is my favorite place in the whole world,” She whispered.
Claude knew how much Noreen loved being there, but nervously recalled J. Alfred’s theory that the tree had accelerated Angela’s cancer. He wondered, where is J. Alfred? “Have you seen Al?” he asked Noreen.
“No,” she replied. “I think my sickness is more difficult on him than me.”
At that moment, J. Alfred was entering a part of the Institute he rarely visited, the chapel. He heard a familiar voice. It was Chris.
“Welcome Mr. Weston. I was hoping you would come.”
“I need a miracle Chris,” he said. “If God can raise a person from the dead, surely he can save Noreen.”
“Why do you think God hasn’t already cured her?” Chris asked.
“That’s a hard question to answer Chris. Noreen is more deserving of a miracle than anyone I know, and she has hundreds of people praying for her.” His face grew angry. “God has taken the people I love most. My father was murdered, my wife and daughter perished from leukemia, and now he’s taking my mother. Is God punishing me?”
“I don’t think so,” Chris replied. “Are you familiar with the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes by miraculously dividing the bread and fishes?”
“Yes,” Mr. Weston answered, wondering what it had to do with Noreen’s illness.
“Some theologians argue the conventional interpretation of what happened is incorrect. They say it was common practice to take extra food along when people journeyed out from the city during ancient times. They argue that when the multitudes witnessed Jesus’ act of sharing, the people also began to share which resulted in an abundance of food.”
“So you don’t believe Jesus performed a miracle?” Mr. Weston asked.
Chris smiled and said, “I believe Jesus gave the people what they needed.” Mr. Weston grimaced, “I don’t understand.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard the old Chinese proverb, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Maybe Jesus was teaching the multitude to feed themselves by sharing.” The question is, ‘What is God trying to teach us?’ Which is the greater miracle, ‘Dividing the loaves and fishes or changing men’s hearts?’”
J. Alfred was disappointed and confused when he left the chapel. What was Chris trying to tell me? Was he saying Noreen must die to teach me a lesson?
Fear of breaking into tears had prevented him from visiting Noreen for two days, but J. Alfred knew she would be wondering why he wasn’t at her side. He was determined to stay strong, even when Claude told him she was resting on the gazebo under the Tree of Life.”
He swallowed hard and walked toward the gazebo. Noreen had fallen asleep while reading the Bible. The book slipped from her hand as he approached. He lunged forward and caught it in mid-air. The pages fell open and his eyes focused on Mathew 21:22. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
He felt a rush of confident emotion, this couldn’t be a coincidence. J. Alfred’s sense of isolation and abandonment was suddenly replaced with a boundless presence. He was not alone, and realized he never had been. For one precious moment he believed and prayed for Noreen. Her eyes opened and she smiled.
“Hello sweetheart, I had the most wonderful dream. God was embracing you,” she said.
“How are you feeling Mom?” he asked.
“Maybe it’s a reaction to the pain meds, but I feel wonderful, renewed somehow.”
Noreen underwent repeated tests over the next few weeks. The doctors found no sign of cancer. They decided the miraculous cure must have been a delayed response to one of the earlier treatments.
J. Alfred didn’t tell anyone about the prayer. Must have been a coincidence, his logic told him, but he knew in his heart what had happened. J. Alfred never felt alone again.