Luck: or reasons for a pessimistic view of life.

Knock on wood! A saying that goes back in time to … perhaps a game or other expressions of safety, or, luck or in some case, bad luck? I am currently reading How the Irish Saved Civilization: the untold story of Ireland's heroic Role from the fall of Rome to the rise of medieval Europe, by Thomas Cahill. In this account pessimism seems to be the overwhelming world view of the early Irish: if something could go wrong, it would. At every cross road, literally and figuratively there were spirits and other beings waiting to snare them. The forces of bad luck and failure were so stacked against them that they had no hope of success. This did have it's positive side: one would not have to face disappointment because he knew all along that he would not do well in any given endeavor.

On the other hand with the arrival of the Gospel through St. Patrick the believing community seems to have changed their tune. Nature was still very animated, but now with smiling angels who might prevail over the forces of evil. One's fate was not so wrapped up in the capriciousness of which ever spirit was near by; no, now the will and the power of God permeated all.

What attitude to do we, the people of God, have regarding luck? What do we do to ward off 'bad luck”? Whom, or what, do we credit for not having bad luck in the past?

The God of the Bible makes some grand claims regarding his ability to do good to his people. Think of “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV) If this is true than what sort of person ought I (you) to be? How quickly should I label something as “bad luck”, or should I not use the phrase at all? God has told his people that “all things work together for good” so I must understand this to mean both the circumstance that I might be inclined to call “bad”, i.e. experience hurts, pain, sorrows and tears, as well as the circumstance in which I would rejoice. Since God is controlling all events than I must rejoice in Him in all things.

I'll close with the words of Joseph: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Gen 50:20 ESV)