Luck

I was asked about Luck (I capitalize it because I can). I guess I wasn't really asked, it was more like I said, "I have my own opinion about Luck, but that is for another day." Well that day has come for me to come clean about it. The best way for me to approach it is to use the movie Signs
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Graham: People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than a coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck, a happy turn of chance. You can be sure that the people in group number two are looking at those 14 lights in a very suspicious way. For them, their situation is 50/50. Could be bad, could be good. But deep down, they feel that whatever happens, they're on their own. And that fills them with fear. But, there are a whole lot of people in group number one. When they see those 14 lights, they're looking at a miracle, and deep down they feel that whatever's going to happen, there will be someone to help them. And that fills them with hope. So what you have to ask yourself: What kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, and sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

Merril: One time, I was at this party... and I was sitting on the couch with Amanda McKinney. She was just sitting there, looking beautiful. So, I lean in to kiss her, and I realize I have gum in my mouth. So, I turn to spit it out and put it in a paper cup. I turn back, and Amanda McKinney throws up all over herself. I knew the moment it happened, it was a miracle. I could have been kissing her when she threw up. It would have scarred me for life. I may never have recovered. I'm a miracle man . . .
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I agree with Merril, I am a miracle (wo)man. Luck is not by chance, there is a plan and a purpose. Could I have said that without the movie? Yes, but it wouldn't have been as fun for me.
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That (in a nut shell) is what I had a few days ago. I shortened it a bit. Then I got this feedback on my Air post, all about some junk happening at work which you have no knowledge of really, but the long and short of it is, we are having trouble with some employees:
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" . . . as Luck would have it, this was predestined? Someone I knew used to say if it wasn't for bad Luck (note capital L usage) he wouldn't have any Luck at all. . . "
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That all brought me to a deeper wondering about the predestination of things. If I believe there is no Luck, if I believe there is a plan, then things have to be predecided. But what about free will? What role does free will play. God made us with free will, not as robots to do certain things and act a certain way. He created us to make all our own decisions. Some of those decisions are beneficial, some are not. Doesn't the very idea that he created free will rid predestination? Or does free will not effect predestination?

What if, in this situation at work, I chose to look at it postitively? I chose to say, these people needed to go. We don't have the number people we need, but did having those people make us better? Some of them had bad attitudes, that brings people around them down. Some people had fine attitudes, but their mind wasn't in the game. Is it beneficial to our company? Physically, we need those people, but on another level we don't. So, if I chose to look at it as a starting over place then that is my free will to act within a predestined situation. This could be a turning point in our company, it could not. It could be the point we start over and grow through this to be a better place to be. Every test that you pass is followed by a reward.

So Luck or no Luck, I still think there is a plan. Is that plan always fair to me or to others? My freshman year of college I did something really stupid. I kept doing it for about a year. I did it because I had free will to do it. I did it because it looked nice, and if felt good. Then I woke up and saw the destruction I left behind me. A life I had to put back together, a Mom I had to get forgiveness from, a God I couldn't because of the shame. I had free will, but I still believe that year was predestined. As bad as it hurt then, and still some today, I believe it was part of a bigger plan. The trick is to look at the bigger picture (if you can). After all of the destruction, pain, shame, and guilt I can look back and say "it all started with one bad night, what bad luck." Or I can say, "here is how I grew."
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A woman's husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, he motioned for her to come nearer.
As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, "You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you stayed right here. When my health started failing, you were still by my side. You know what?"
"What dear?" she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth and love.
"I think you're bad luck, will you get the hell away from me."