The phrase “Good Luck” is a conundrum for Christians.
It’s a way to wish someone well, which seems like a very Christian thing to do. But theologically it’s a problem because it assumes that the universe is just a huge machine. No God, just mindless gears. Some get lucky, some get crushed.
So of course we Christians should be uncomfortable with it. Or should we?
My Grandpa and Grandma Kreis were trained in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. I can still remember my Grandfather using some of its moves on me when I was still young and spry. One moment I was in total control of my body, the next hopelessly pinned with no idea how the transition occurred.
The trick is that Aikido uses your own power against you. It redirects your own motion. It’s almost as if you are pinning yourself. And that is what makes Aikido so fascinating. It isn’t about delivering a death-punch that crushes the opponents skull. In fact, it’s quiet the opposite. It not only seeks to protect the victim from physical injury but also the attacker. Which is a beautiful and very Christian concept. A concept we can apply to the word Luck.
For example, our family recently read through the book of Esther. It has enough plot twists to make Charles Dickens’ head spin. But the thing that sets Esther apart from any other book in the Bible is that it never mentions God directly.
One part of the story that always astonishes me occurs when a wicked man named Haman goes to the King to ask permission to kill a Jew named Mordecai. But at that exact moment, the King just happens to be reading about a time that Mordecai saved his life. So not only does Haman not get permission to kill Mordecai but he is forced to take part in honoring Mordecai for his service to the King!
Wow! How lucky is that!? It’s very lucky! In fact, doesn’t it seem just too lucky to be luck? Doesn’t it seem more like Providence.
How’s that for a little Aikido?
