A Theology of Luck

I’ve read about psychological studies of “lucky” people that explain the reason for their good fortune. Research shows lucky people are curious people. Lucky people explore just a little further than anyone else does. Lucky people often times aren’t lucky. However, they position themselves to be lucky more often than average people. To use a baseball analogy (go Cubbies!), because lucky people step up to the plate more often, they have more cracks at hitting a home run, single, or arriving on first because of a walk or an error. They might strike out more often too. But they can handle rejection.

I recently tried my own little experiment in luck to see if I too might become a lucky person. It worked.

I finished my workout at the gym and was walking to my car. I noticed a nearby coffee shop that was recently built, and it looked like it just might be open. I looked closer and saw that the drive thru lanes were closed off with cones. I didn’t stop there. I noticed however that the window was open where you buy coffee and a person was inside. I proceeded further.

“Could I get a coffee?”
“Sorry we’re closed—our grand opening is next Friday though.”
She looked at me. I looked at her. Then she said, “Would you like a free coffee?”
“Wow! Yes, that would be awesome! Could I have a small non-fat triple wet cappuccino?”
“Coming right up!”
“Thanks so much!”

Other people saw me at the window. They began walking over too and waited in line. She handed me the piping hot nectar of the gods. I thanked her profusely. She looked over at the hopeful pre-customers and said, “I’m sorry, my manager said I’m not allowed to serve any more coffee until we open. Come back next Friday for our grand opening!”

I looked at my fellow downcast coffee lovers and offered my coffee to share with them. We all laughed. I looked at my coffee lid and it said, “Come back for our grand opening!”

Yes indeed, I was a lucky guy. I got a smile, a great story, and most importantly, a delicious triple small non-fat cappuccino for free! And I drank the first cup of coffee served in the new coffee shop that I will now go to a lot, starting next Friday. That is grace and pure joy.

There’s a Jewish midrash that says the burning bush had been burning for years and years in the wilderness. People passed by year after year without looking closer. Moses was just the first one to stop, notice the burning bush, and take a closer look. As he drew closer, God spoke. And the rest is not only history, but Moses’ decision to be curious is still reverberating and inspiring people today and for all eternity from the God who is “I am who I am.” As the poet says, “every bush is a burning bush.”

Jesus believes this too. “Seek and you will find, ask and you will receive, knock and the door will be opened unto you.” A living faith is a curious faith. A faith that is willing to step out into something new, into the unknown. Faith asks questions. Gets closer. Takes a chance and risks rejection. With a robust theology of risk and curiosity, God, not always, but sometimes, will perform a miracle that you would have otherwise missed. And heaven knows, maybe, just maybe, you will not only grow in faith, but you might just get a free coffee.

Pastor John
Jots and Tittles Blog
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
john@immanuelpc.org

* If you liked this post, visit Pastor John’s Jots and Tittles Blog page for more.
And if you would like to listen to one of our sermons, you can access them anytime from the Sermons page.