People helped make a miracle in Utah

"Miracles do exist."

The words of Elizabeth Smart's uncle sprang into headlines across the country this week as the Salt Lake City girl was rescued nine months after she had been abducted from her home.

And, yes, it was miraculous the 15-year-old girl was found alive. With heart-wrenching regularity we read time after time of kidnapped children turning up without the happy ending.

It is worth examining this miracle, though, to see some of the elements that had more to do with human persistence than divine intervention.

-- Her parents never gave up hope. We assume all parents keep such hope alive, but the Smarts were among those who worked hard to assist authorities in locating their daughter . It was their flyer with a photo of a suspect that ultimately made the difference.

-- Police asked for help. Although it's becoming routine again, there was a time some police departments were reluctant, or lackadaisical, about going public with investigations, suspects and leads.

The Amber Alert system is an example of public notification being made part of standard operating procedure.

-- The public got involved. The people who spotted suspect Brian Mitchell and called police were alert and willing to do their duty.

"I'm a persistent person," said Anita Dickerson, one of those who called police. "If I see something and feel like that isn't right, I'll just try to do the right thing and check it out. I'm a normal person, a mother, and I did what any mother would do if they noticed him."

We'd like to agree it's what any mother -- any person -- would do. But that's not always the case.

Miracles do happen. But that doesn't mean we can sit around waiting for them.

Now, for example, Congress needs to get moving on a bill to make the Amber Alert system nationwide. It has already helped locate children in several states where it is active.

The sooner a national network is in place, the better. Because sadly it's true that tragedies happen too.