I am reminded of the well known line Clint Eastwood spoke in the Dirty Harry movies, “Are you feeling lucky today, punk?” Lucky is not in my normal vocabulary. Honestly, I can’t remember how long it has been since I have even used the word. I accept that some people appear to be lucky, but I have never considered myself to be a member of that elite club. Jokingly, but with a good measure of seriousness, I have said that if there are two checkout lines in a store, watch which one I go to and go to the other. That is how my luck usually goes.
A few months ago I heard lucky used in a very unusual sense by a mentor and friend. He neither won the lottery nor narrowly escaped a bad accident. In fact, he wasn’t even talking about himself. He was referring to a longtime friend of his in a rather jealous way. My mentor and friend had been instrumental in the founding the ministry I now lead, Elder Source Senior Ministries. He was once my pastor, and I was once on his staff. I feel very fortunate to have known him for many years.
His moment of jealousy came when he learned that a longtime friend had died. Knowing his friend’s suffering was over and was now in Heaven, he was heard to utter one word. LUCKY! On the surface that sounds very strange, but there are two things you need to know. First, my friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer and knew his time was short. Second, he knew his eternal future was secure because he trusted Jesus as his Savior and Lord.
Though happy for his friend, thus calling him lucky, he was also very ready to go. A relatively short time later he got his wish. After 90 years on this earth and after accomplishing some amazing things for the Lord, he is finally home. Lucky? Well, maybe not in the true sense of the word. However, he was fortunate to have spent his life serving God by serving others until his last breath. May I be so lucky!
Stan Means
Elder Source Senior Ministries
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