I'm the Unluckiest Person you Know

I'm quite fond of holiday-related home décor. I admire my friend Kristen’s designation of bar-top counter space for each holiday’s festive wares. And I’m usually not offended by October decorations showing up on July 5. I know, I’m strange that way.

In short, I understand consumerism and I appreciate cute decorations and holiday tchotchkes.

Here in Florida, we’ve had a sucker of a winter, where temperatures will fluctuate 30 degrees in 6 hours, it seems. I’ve contracted my share of viruses lately – as has my family – so I’m ready for a change.

So, to mentally and prematurely usher in springtime, I decided last week to update the décor on my front porch.

So, I went to Home Depot to purchase a small garden flag for my front flowerbed. Something St. Patrick’s Day-related would be wonderful, I thought. I then thought about buying something to hang in our front window. Yes, a shamrock would do nicely, thank you.

But no sooner had I rearranged the front stoop, added a chair, moved that flowerpot from here to there, then I realized I’m not really fond of St. Patrick’s Day after all. It’s a bummer, really, because I’m Catholic.

My lack of enthusiasm for, in particular, the 2016 version of this holiday started when the only March-ish flags I could find in the store were those that read, “Lucky this, and lucky that, lucky leprechaun in a hat,” or something to that effect.

So, I bought a flag with a frog on it instead. He’s green. He’ll work.

Next, I went to Target to find something for the window. I’m not Irish, so please don’t kiss me, alright? And “Lucky girl with a lucky twirl,” (something like that), isn’t quite what I had in mind for the front window.

So, instead I bought a $3 wooden shamrock in the cheapo section and painted it three shades of green. It’s in the window now, and it looks good enough.

Lucky, lucky, lucky. We are all so lucky, aren’t we? I am the unluckiest person you’ll ever meet, because I’m the most blessed. And so are you.

Saint Patrick of Ireland didn’t believe in luck; he believed in Christ. At a young age he was captured by Irish pirates and escaped at the age of 20. After experiencing a vision from God, he entered the priesthood, and later was ordained as bishop. He conducted his life’s work of preaching the gospel throughout Ireland. For more than 40 years, he converted entire kingdoms to Christianity, and used shamrocks to explain the holy trinity to those he met.

Among others, he wrote “The Breastplate,” a poem of his love of the Lord: “Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”

I’m sure someone reading this blog today will know the story of the Luck of the Irish and want to explain it to me. I’ll do my best to patiently listen/read what he has to say. But I promise you I still won’t believe in luck.

If you’re a Christian and you think of yourself as lucky…does that give any credit to God for your good fortune? If you’re a Christian and you describe yourself as lucky…does that help others understand what God’s done for you?

I know, I know: It’s just holiday decorations, Vickie. But is that really all it is? Or is it more about being aware of words, how we use them and the power they hold? What if Christians never used the word lucky again?

The bible tells us…

• “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

• “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33)

• “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)

May we always remember that we are predestined to fulfill the purpose He has set before us.

May we understand everything that happens in this life will work out according to His will.

May we stop labeling things “good” or “bad,” “lucky” or “unlucky.” And may we know deeply that our luck will never change, because it never existed in the first place.

Amen.