Luck

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; donot depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he willshow you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6, New Living Translation)

Oneof the days we were in the Czech Republic, we visited the city of Pilsen, thehome of Pilsner beer (because the word “pilsner” means “from Pilsen”, I guess).

Outside of the huge St. Bartholomew Cathedral, there was a gate with a line of scary-looking angels’ heads on it. There is a legend that one particular head grants good luck and happiness if you rub it. One website I found says, “The legend concerns an executioner who was not permitted to come into the church because his job involved killing people. So, he had a substitute man take his wedding vows there in 1739. While this substitute was at the altar with the bride, the executioner was praying at that gate. When he suddenly became faint, he grabbed a cherub with one hand so he would not fall.”

So, many of the people in our tour group rubbed that one certain head. Me? No. I didn't even get a picture of it. 

           And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28, New Living Translation)

One day, many months ago, I was talking to our pastor about a business trip he was about to take. As I turned to leave his office, I said, “Good luck on your trip.”

Then I caught myself. “It’s not a Christian-thing to wish people good luck, is it?”

He answered, no, with an explanation that if someone has faith in God, they don’t wish for good luck. They only need pray. Their prayer might not be answered the way they would like, but it will be answered in the way God knows is best.

It’s all about faith and not about luck at all.  

(Oh, and that little cherub head that's supposed to grant good luck? Because so many people rub it which wears it down, it has to be replaced every couple of years.)