Lucky

Counting blessings may lead to thoughts about lucky.  I feel lucky to have electricity, water flowing from indoor spigots, clean clothes.  I consider myself lucky to be married to a faithful husband whose love and commitment allow me to securely reciprocate my own love and commitment.  I feel lucky to have been born in the United State of America.  I am lucky to have good friends, bright children, the opportunity to practice yoga, a pile of food to look forward to Thanksgiving Day.  Some of these things are in my life by chance, some involved past and continued determination on my part.     

Lucky is defined at dictionary.com as an adjective meaning
1.  having or marked by good luck; fortunate
2.  happening fortunately
3.  bringing or foretelling good luck

We might admit there is randomness to every person’s life.  Events, people, resources, and options arrive or depart without our conscious choice. I’ve read versions of the following Chinese Folktale that address events as good or bad.  This one is from "The Power of Mindful Learning," by Ellen J. Langer.

A man who lived on the northern frontier of China was skilled in interpreting events.  One day, for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border.  Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"  Some months later his horse returned, bringing a splendid nomad stallion.  Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a disaster?"  Their household was richer by a fine horse, which his son loved to ride. One day the son fell and broke his hip.  Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"  A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man took his bow and went into battle.  The Chinese frontiersmen lost nine of every ten men.  Only because the son was lame did the father and son survive to take care of each other.  Truly, blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: the changes have no end, nor can the mystery be fathomed.

We each know the moment we are in and perhaps recall some we have passed through.  Often hindsight gives perspective only cumulative events can offer.  Knowing, like the Chinese father, changes have no end nor can the mystery be fathomed is a challenge when life seems not lucky.  Never can it be said that it is lucky to be ill or sad or lonely or in poverty or abused.  The grand mystery of it all seems truly incomprehensible.  But, when I reflect on my life, never has a truer statement been made than the Dalai Lama XIV’s words, “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”   

Columbus didn’t get his path to India.  Generations later we celebrate American Thanksgiving.  In its tradition, I wish abundance to all this week and always.