Odds are

I saw a documentary recently about pregnancy and childbirth. I already know all the basics of course, plus a little of the more advanced stuff, and it’s not the first time I’ve seen a documentary of this sort. But every time I do, I’m amazed all over again.

Do you realize the number of factors that all have to come together perfectly for a child to be born? It’s astounding. I mean, forget the whole sperm/egg ratio for a second and concentrate on post-conception events. The egg has to attach itself to the uterus wall, or else no baby. It has to divide properly, or else no baby. It has to be nurtured, protected, and so on, or no baby. During birth, there's an astonishing sequence of events that have to happen just right, or else no baby (and sometimes, no mommy either). And what are the chances of this all coming together? It's gotta be pretty slim odds, and yet it happens all the time.

During my wife’s first pregnancy, I came across this tidbit of information. Every four hours or so, the amniotic fluid in the uterus is completely exchanged. Like changing the oil in your car. Drained and replaced. But get this: scientists don’t know how. We’ve landed a couple of robots on a planet 80 million miles away, but we haven’t the faintest clue how this fluid process works. But it does. And if it didn’t….no baby.

Incredible things happen every day, if you keep an eye out for them.

I’ve dropped a glass in the sink by accident and had it bounce four times without breaking.

I’ve crossed the street, looked the wrong way, and been missed by a car by about three inches.

I’ve seen a 2 year-old kid tumble down five concrete steps, jump up, and keep going like nothing happened.

I’ve seen sunsets that you couldn’t describe if you tried.

I’ve watched two children…my own two children…be pulled from their mother’s body and take their first breaths on their own.

I’m not religious. I haven’t even made up my mind yet about the existence of God. But I absolutely believe in miracles.