Monday
26Jun2006
Just My Luck?
Monday, June 26, 2006 at 2:43PM
Graduation Sunday at Providence Park Baptist Church (Richmond, VA) on June 25, 2006
You know, it's interesting to hear that introduction, listing all the things that I've done. When I was asked to put together a bio – I just very briefly touched on the things that I had done at Yale and what I'm doing now at VH1 in New York. I e-mailed it to my mom like, "Okay, here it is!" She calls me the next day saying, "No, I don't think so. You clearly need to say much more than this." So, with her additions, there's the version that was read today. Thanks a lot, Mom.
What's also interesting about that introduction is that, when I first read it over myself, I didn't really recognize who it was about! Honestly! It was the first time that I had seen the things that I have accomplished all put down in one place. It reminded me of a story that Dr. Martin Luther King used to tell before his speeches after folks would introduce him and list all of his accolades. The story is that there was once an old woman in the countryside who had never been married. One Sunday morning, the woman went to church and was approached by the Reverend who said to her, "May, I hear you're getting married." She replied, "Reverend, that can't be true, but thank God for the rumor." Well, even if all of those things in that introduction are true, thank God for the rumor anyways.
Seriously though, when I look at all of those accomplishments now, I can begin to see them as fitting together like puzzle pieces in a larger picture – a larger plan, or purpose.
I was speaking with a friend of mine about a week ago and we were sharing some of the good things that were going on in our lives. She had just finished competing in national track and field championships and had just been asked to model in a photo shoot for a clothing line. I let her know that after only a couple days on the job at VH1, I was being given responsibilities that would usually be handled by someone with much more formal business training than I have. I was excited about these things and she told me, "AJ, you are so lucky." Now, we hear about luck all the time. We wish people good luck, tell them to break a leg, and advise them not to open up umbrellas indoors – because that's bad luck. I've never really considered myself much of a lucky person, but the thing I am sure of today is that God is working.
I know he's working because, as he said in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." But I started to think about luck, and just what that meant. And I came across this study.
A psychologist in England recently conducted an experiment on luck. He recruited 700 subjects who had intended to purchase lottery tickets to complete a questionnaire, a self-report scale that measures whether people consider themselves to be lucky or unlucky. Although the "lucky" people were twice as confident as the "unlucky" ones that they would win the lottery, there was no difference in winnings. This same group of subjects also completed a "life satisfaction" survey in which they were asked to rank themselves on how satisfied they are with their family life, personal life, financial situation, health and career. When the results were in, the psychologist found that the "lucky" people were far more satisfied with all areas of their lives than the "unlucky" or neutral people - people who didn't believe strongly either way.
Now, I just came out of college, so follow me as I do a little analysis and investigation. So, those who believed they are "lucky" expected positive outcomes. Those who believed they are "unlucky," or did not believe strongly either way, however, did not. Those with the positive, "lucky" mentality were at a higher level of satisfaction in their lives. Remember, though, that whether the subjects thought themselves to be "lucky" or "unlucky" had little effect on lottery winnings. But, we can assume that the "lucky" people retained their positive outlooks on life, whether they hit the number or not. The people who lacked a positive outlook, on the other hand, probably viewed losing the lottery as a reinforcement of their negative perspective on their lives.
So what does this study tell us? The central issue here is what these people do or don't believe about themselves. Now, let's say you walk out Providence today and find $5 on the sidewalk. After you look over your shoulders to see if anyone else spotted it, you might say, "Hey, today's my lucky day!" When my sister and I were younger, my mother would sometimes say, "Find a penny, pick it up. All the day you'll have good luck." So sure, that's your lucky day – congratulations. Now let's say you find $5 when you walk out next week, then $10 next month, then $20 two weeks later, and so on. Is that luck?
Let's try another situation. Let's say a child gets an A on a test. Do you tell that child that it's their lucky day? What if that child gets that A, then later that year they win the school spelling bee. Then they win Scholastic Standout – twice, they get accepted to a prestigious prep school, they develop strong talents, they get to travel the world, they get competitive internships, they get accepted to an Ivy League university, they increase their talents and develop new ones, they start a successful business, they receive accolades, they graduate, they get pursued by some of the top companies in the world…
Is that that child's lucky 21 years? Did they just catch all the breaks? Of course the saying goes that luck equals preparation plus opportunity. The child studied hard, received love and encouragement from family and friends, and was prepared and ready when the chances came.
But consider that something else might be involved. Something beyond chances and breaks and believing that "luck" will come your way.
As Christians, we ought to know a little bit about believing. We believe that there's something or someone bigger than us. We believe that life on earth is more meaningful than waking up, going to work, and coming home everyday for the rest of our lives. We believe that, even through all the hardships and suffering in our own lives and in this world, there is a God who loves us. There is a God who will never give up on us or leave us. There is a God who, despite the things we do and say that He doesn't like, wants to have eternal fellowship with Him by believing in His son, Jesus, who He sent to die on our behalf.
Isn't that something? That's a true friend. I can't even really say that about myself – that I'll still love and want to be around people who do and say things that I don't like. But that's what God does for us. He loves us. He is love, and like it says in Jeremiah 29:11, he has plans for us, plans to give us a hope and a future, and not to harm us. That's what comes to my mind when I hear that list of the things that I've done, but can hardly recognize that that's me. Yes, I studied and put in the work to plant those seeds. But in order for seeds to grow, they need light and water, right? Well, all those things came to fruition because God, with his wonderful plan, came along and added the living water and the divine light into my life to make it so.
I believe that. And I believe that so much more now, as I'm still maturing in my faith, because despite the things I know that I've said and done, despite the people I've wronged and hurt, the many times I've needed forgiveness and contrition, God kept bringing me through it and giving me more blessings. I can't help but to accept God's plan as a part of my own destiny.
Now, let's go back to "lucky" and "unlucky" people. Those people faced certain outcomes based on how they acted on what they believed to be true. We all do that, whether we think we're "lucky" or not. We sit down in the chair believing that it will support us. We put the key in the ignition believing that the car will start. We don't become afraid and say, "My God, what if the car doesn't start? What will I do?" and get too scared to put it in. You just do it, in faith, and see what happens. Our belief in God ought to be the same way.
In His Word, God says some things about us that we should believe to be true – that all things are possible through Christ, who gives us strength; that He promises us unconditional love, everlasting life, joy, and peace; that we will not see the condemnation we deserve when we disobey Him, because of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
In believing that those things are true, the next step is acting on it. Putting in the key and starting up our faith. God helps us understand how to do that. We do it by making the effort to read and believe in His word, despite the times we get frustrated because we don't always understand it. We do it by going to Him in prayer and speaking to Him like a friend. We make that effort to understand who He is and just what He says to us and about us. We act on what we believe by surrounding ourselves with positive people and influences to keep us in check and accountable; not judging or condemning others for stumbling when we know that we stumble, too; embracing and being thankful for our blessings from Him and helping our brothers and sisters – believers and nonbelievers, especially those who haven't received the blessings we've had – to do the same.
Through all the accolades and accomplishments on that list, I am really no more blessed than anybody in this sanctuary this morning. God woke us all up this morning to get out of bed. Do you understand what a miracle that is? Today was not promised and, quite frankly, neither is tomorrow. God gave us that miracle this morning, because he has a plan for us – a plan that was formed before we breathed our first breath. He made each of us for unique purposes that only we can fulfill.
Regardless, students, of the school you currently attend, will attend, or have graduated; regardless, parents and adults, of the things you've accomplished or not, the dreams you realized or put on hold; regardless of our excuses, our mistakes, our doubts, our fears, our faults – God's plan for us and His love are still here, waiting for us to reach out to Him and receive all He has for us.
Imagine how beginning or increasing your faith in God's promises can increase and multiply what peace and happiness you believe you have or believe you lack. Just imagine it. Imagine it, trust God, and obey his loving commands to make it happen. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Now, I'm not really sure if I'm lucky or not. I've played a couple scratch cards and I've put my birthdate in the lotto, and I haven't hit the number once! But, I do know this. I believe that God has blessed me tremendously and that His plan will continue to unfold. He's doing it for me and He's doing the same for you, too. And He's always been ready for you to accept it.
The question, for all of us, will always be the same for every new day that we see. The question is: Am I ready? Am I ready to devote my life towards living for God, striving to put Him first in all I do, believing in His word, in His promises, and His plan for me? Am I ready to put aside selfishness, stop being afraid, to stop doubting, to stop beating up on myself for my sins, to stop carrying the hurt that others have put on me and that I've put on myself, and trust God to carry me?
We have to examine our hearts, think of the many ways He has blessed us, and how, like breathing and stretching this morning, we might have taken those things for granted, and just tell God, "Yes, I'm ready." When we're ready, God will truly give us all we need. And it won't be luck that He gives us, because luck can come and go. Instead, it will be a hope, a future, and a love that will be unconditional.
Amen. Thank you.
You know, it's interesting to hear that introduction, listing all the things that I've done. When I was asked to put together a bio – I just very briefly touched on the things that I had done at Yale and what I'm doing now at VH1 in New York. I e-mailed it to my mom like, "Okay, here it is!" She calls me the next day saying, "No, I don't think so. You clearly need to say much more than this." So, with her additions, there's the version that was read today. Thanks a lot, Mom.
What's also interesting about that introduction is that, when I first read it over myself, I didn't really recognize who it was about! Honestly! It was the first time that I had seen the things that I have accomplished all put down in one place. It reminded me of a story that Dr. Martin Luther King used to tell before his speeches after folks would introduce him and list all of his accolades. The story is that there was once an old woman in the countryside who had never been married. One Sunday morning, the woman went to church and was approached by the Reverend who said to her, "May, I hear you're getting married." She replied, "Reverend, that can't be true, but thank God for the rumor." Well, even if all of those things in that introduction are true, thank God for the rumor anyways.
Seriously though, when I look at all of those accomplishments now, I can begin to see them as fitting together like puzzle pieces in a larger picture – a larger plan, or purpose.
I was speaking with a friend of mine about a week ago and we were sharing some of the good things that were going on in our lives. She had just finished competing in national track and field championships and had just been asked to model in a photo shoot for a clothing line. I let her know that after only a couple days on the job at VH1, I was being given responsibilities that would usually be handled by someone with much more formal business training than I have. I was excited about these things and she told me, "AJ, you are so lucky." Now, we hear about luck all the time. We wish people good luck, tell them to break a leg, and advise them not to open up umbrellas indoors – because that's bad luck. I've never really considered myself much of a lucky person, but the thing I am sure of today is that God is working.
I know he's working because, as he said in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." But I started to think about luck, and just what that meant. And I came across this study.
A psychologist in England recently conducted an experiment on luck. He recruited 700 subjects who had intended to purchase lottery tickets to complete a questionnaire, a self-report scale that measures whether people consider themselves to be lucky or unlucky. Although the "lucky" people were twice as confident as the "unlucky" ones that they would win the lottery, there was no difference in winnings. This same group of subjects also completed a "life satisfaction" survey in which they were asked to rank themselves on how satisfied they are with their family life, personal life, financial situation, health and career. When the results were in, the psychologist found that the "lucky" people were far more satisfied with all areas of their lives than the "unlucky" or neutral people - people who didn't believe strongly either way.
Now, I just came out of college, so follow me as I do a little analysis and investigation. So, those who believed they are "lucky" expected positive outcomes. Those who believed they are "unlucky," or did not believe strongly either way, however, did not. Those with the positive, "lucky" mentality were at a higher level of satisfaction in their lives. Remember, though, that whether the subjects thought themselves to be "lucky" or "unlucky" had little effect on lottery winnings. But, we can assume that the "lucky" people retained their positive outlooks on life, whether they hit the number or not. The people who lacked a positive outlook, on the other hand, probably viewed losing the lottery as a reinforcement of their negative perspective on their lives.
So what does this study tell us? The central issue here is what these people do or don't believe about themselves. Now, let's say you walk out Providence today and find $5 on the sidewalk. After you look over your shoulders to see if anyone else spotted it, you might say, "Hey, today's my lucky day!" When my sister and I were younger, my mother would sometimes say, "Find a penny, pick it up. All the day you'll have good luck." So sure, that's your lucky day – congratulations. Now let's say you find $5 when you walk out next week, then $10 next month, then $20 two weeks later, and so on. Is that luck?
Let's try another situation. Let's say a child gets an A on a test. Do you tell that child that it's their lucky day? What if that child gets that A, then later that year they win the school spelling bee. Then they win Scholastic Standout – twice, they get accepted to a prestigious prep school, they develop strong talents, they get to travel the world, they get competitive internships, they get accepted to an Ivy League university, they increase their talents and develop new ones, they start a successful business, they receive accolades, they graduate, they get pursued by some of the top companies in the world…
Is that that child's lucky 21 years? Did they just catch all the breaks? Of course the saying goes that luck equals preparation plus opportunity. The child studied hard, received love and encouragement from family and friends, and was prepared and ready when the chances came.
But consider that something else might be involved. Something beyond chances and breaks and believing that "luck" will come your way.
As Christians, we ought to know a little bit about believing. We believe that there's something or someone bigger than us. We believe that life on earth is more meaningful than waking up, going to work, and coming home everyday for the rest of our lives. We believe that, even through all the hardships and suffering in our own lives and in this world, there is a God who loves us. There is a God who will never give up on us or leave us. There is a God who, despite the things we do and say that He doesn't like, wants to have eternal fellowship with Him by believing in His son, Jesus, who He sent to die on our behalf.
Isn't that something? That's a true friend. I can't even really say that about myself – that I'll still love and want to be around people who do and say things that I don't like. But that's what God does for us. He loves us. He is love, and like it says in Jeremiah 29:11, he has plans for us, plans to give us a hope and a future, and not to harm us. That's what comes to my mind when I hear that list of the things that I've done, but can hardly recognize that that's me. Yes, I studied and put in the work to plant those seeds. But in order for seeds to grow, they need light and water, right? Well, all those things came to fruition because God, with his wonderful plan, came along and added the living water and the divine light into my life to make it so.
I believe that. And I believe that so much more now, as I'm still maturing in my faith, because despite the things I know that I've said and done, despite the people I've wronged and hurt, the many times I've needed forgiveness and contrition, God kept bringing me through it and giving me more blessings. I can't help but to accept God's plan as a part of my own destiny.
Now, let's go back to "lucky" and "unlucky" people. Those people faced certain outcomes based on how they acted on what they believed to be true. We all do that, whether we think we're "lucky" or not. We sit down in the chair believing that it will support us. We put the key in the ignition believing that the car will start. We don't become afraid and say, "My God, what if the car doesn't start? What will I do?" and get too scared to put it in. You just do it, in faith, and see what happens. Our belief in God ought to be the same way.
In His Word, God says some things about us that we should believe to be true – that all things are possible through Christ, who gives us strength; that He promises us unconditional love, everlasting life, joy, and peace; that we will not see the condemnation we deserve when we disobey Him, because of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
In believing that those things are true, the next step is acting on it. Putting in the key and starting up our faith. God helps us understand how to do that. We do it by making the effort to read and believe in His word, despite the times we get frustrated because we don't always understand it. We do it by going to Him in prayer and speaking to Him like a friend. We make that effort to understand who He is and just what He says to us and about us. We act on what we believe by surrounding ourselves with positive people and influences to keep us in check and accountable; not judging or condemning others for stumbling when we know that we stumble, too; embracing and being thankful for our blessings from Him and helping our brothers and sisters – believers and nonbelievers, especially those who haven't received the blessings we've had – to do the same.
Through all the accolades and accomplishments on that list, I am really no more blessed than anybody in this sanctuary this morning. God woke us all up this morning to get out of bed. Do you understand what a miracle that is? Today was not promised and, quite frankly, neither is tomorrow. God gave us that miracle this morning, because he has a plan for us – a plan that was formed before we breathed our first breath. He made each of us for unique purposes that only we can fulfill.
Regardless, students, of the school you currently attend, will attend, or have graduated; regardless, parents and adults, of the things you've accomplished or not, the dreams you realized or put on hold; regardless of our excuses, our mistakes, our doubts, our fears, our faults – God's plan for us and His love are still here, waiting for us to reach out to Him and receive all He has for us.
Imagine how beginning or increasing your faith in God's promises can increase and multiply what peace and happiness you believe you have or believe you lack. Just imagine it. Imagine it, trust God, and obey his loving commands to make it happen. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Now, I'm not really sure if I'm lucky or not. I've played a couple scratch cards and I've put my birthdate in the lotto, and I haven't hit the number once! But, I do know this. I believe that God has blessed me tremendously and that His plan will continue to unfold. He's doing it for me and He's doing the same for you, too. And He's always been ready for you to accept it.
The question, for all of us, will always be the same for every new day that we see. The question is: Am I ready? Am I ready to devote my life towards living for God, striving to put Him first in all I do, believing in His word, in His promises, and His plan for me? Am I ready to put aside selfishness, stop being afraid, to stop doubting, to stop beating up on myself for my sins, to stop carrying the hurt that others have put on me and that I've put on myself, and trust God to carry me?
We have to examine our hearts, think of the many ways He has blessed us, and how, like breathing and stretching this morning, we might have taken those things for granted, and just tell God, "Yes, I'm ready." When we're ready, God will truly give us all we need. And it won't be luck that He gives us, because luck can come and go. Instead, it will be a hope, a future, and a love that will be unconditional.
Amen. Thank you.
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