Albumin (and Other Tiny Miracles)

Albumin (and Other Tiny Miracles)

Unless you are a medical student or a scientist or someone well versed in biochemistry, chances are you don’t think much—or at all—about albumin. Sometimes referred to as the molecular taxi system of the body, albumin serum is a water-soluble, heart-shaped protein. The human version of it normally constitutes more than half of our blood plasma.

Suffice it to say I’ve come to appreciate albumin serum more than some and respect the folks whose job it is to collect, reintroduce, and recycle the stuff. I’ve even learned that some of these dedicated workers donate their own blood plasma to make substitute tears for those whose eyes can’t produce enough of them!

This substance, with its heart-shaped infrastructure, performs some of the most essential functions of life—and we can’t even see it work! It moves chemicals from one place to another. It carries certain medications where they need to go, all with very little fanfare: we are unaware of its value as long as it keeps working correctly.

Isn’t that how most of us treat the intricate structure of our faith? Untested, we don’t think of it much. Unchallenged, we don’t consider its deep, rock-solid essence. As long as it keeps working correctly, that is, as long as we remain comfortable and relatively confident that our inherited righteousness will insulate us from harm, we don’t bother to examine the complex system of miracles on which our lives rest. The whole Trinity has been at work around and within us to bring us into a community of cruciform love, and we rarely stop to bow our heads in awe.

Albumin, this invisible human serum, has made me more achingly aware of other things I cannot see—things just as real, essential, and miraculous.

There are quiet, tiny miracles at work on our behalf, even now. And belief is still the biggest miracle of all.

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Psalm 145:1-3, NIV