“Good luck!”
It was the response of one God-believing person to my Leukemia treatments. I appreciated the well-meaning gesture, I really did. Having grown up on a diet of Disney as a child, I remember the “luck of the Irish” and “wishing upon a star.” But, luck seems to be superstition that is contrary to real faith. What if your skilled surgeon, after years of perfecting her techniques, said to you before your surgery, “Well, wish me luck!” It certainly wouldn’t instill much faith in their ability, would it? If doctors have reason to believe in their abilities, then what role does ‘luck’ play if you believe in a Living and Loving God?
“Knock on wood.” “Cross your fingers.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking folks who use these phrases to wish others well. But I wonder if such vocabulary defines – or betrays – what we really believe.
Click on ‘leave a reply’ at the top of the post and tell me what YOU think. Are there other needless (and hopeless) words we could safely eliminate from our daily conversations? What words would you use instead?
Proverbs 16:21
“The wise in heart are called discerning.”. Proverbs 16:21a
Our brother Bruce grew my awareness of the diminishing power of the word “just”… as in ‘this is just a small gift’ or ‘he/she is just a friend’.
‘Take care’ is another expression that, while ‘harmless’ enough, implies self suffiency. I rather prefer the intentional “be blessed” as a parting greeting. It focuses on our choice (to be or not to be) to receive and acknowledge the blessings we are offered each day!
Thanks for sharing those good points, Jane. I too have sometimes been guilty of minimizing gestures with the word “just.” Jesus taught us it is the size of the heart that makes a seemingly ‘small’ gift very large.
True, “take care” is pointless… Is like saying “don’t be negligent”… The Quechua people have a saying that loosely translated (when acknowledging a gift) says: “May God repay you”. Then, why not bless instead? Good point, Bryan, in raising up those questions… The rusted gears of my brain are starting to wheel again…
Julia, good for you for following what is right. Traditions sometimes hold value if they draw us closer to God and closer to each other. And there is value in mourning. But following our faith, Christians are called to obediently and joyfully also celebrate the life that was and the new life that certainly is! Thanks for sharing your example of living by faith.