A first grade teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs. She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to acquire building materials for his home. She said, "And so the pig went up to the man with a wheelbarrow full of straw and said, ˜Pardon me sir, but might I have some of that straw to build my house?'" Then the teacher asked the class, "And what do you think that man said?" A little boy raised his hand and said, "I know! I know! He said ˜Holy smokes! A talking pig!'"

What would you think if you encountered a talking pig? Would it shake you up? Would it challenge some of your deepest held beliefs about the nature of the universe? Would you consider it a miracle?

Think about that while I tell you about a hospital where everyone was awaiting a visit from …