The Peak of Inspiration

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Psalms 16:6

I stopped to fill my pickup with gas the other day at our local filling station.  After pumping the gas, I had to run inside to retrieve the receipt because, true to form for this particular station, there was no paper in the pump printer.  After filling at that place as many times as I have, you might suppose that this wouldn’t affect my attitude.  You would suppose wrongly.  Seems like a fairly simple thing to keep the pumps supplied with a roll or two simply for the customer’s convenience.  But I digress.

The situation I encountered in the store was just as typical as the one outside.  I stood in line for a considerable time as an elderly lady at the counter purchase a quantity of lottery tickets.  It took a few attempts to get the cashier to understand how many and of what brand she wished to buy.  Most of them were one- and two-dollar tickets, a couple of larger ones as well.  Finally, things were straightened out and she unrolled a wad of cash and settled the bill. 

Maybe it would be best if I didn’t describe my thoughts as I waited in line.  They wouldn’t edify you and certainly wouldn’t contribute anything to this essay.  But I will say that this particular encounter has caused a few thoughts about why she was buying lottery tickets and I wasn’t. 

It’s difficult to find statistics that show how many people have been blessed with circumstances even remotely similar to mine.  But for a basis, and for the information of any that may not be familiar with my setting, I will briefly tell you how it sits with me.  And for those that share my lifestyle, maybe a reminder is in place.  It doesn’t take much effort to forget how fortunate we are.

I was born into a Christian family.  My parents loved and were devoted to each other.  That love was passed onto each of us as children.  I attended a private school.  I grew up and remain in a rural setting, far from the noise and influence of the inner city.  I was born in the USA, a country founded upon biblical principles.  I have a peer group that I can trust.  I belong to a circle of friends that watch out for me.  They sit beside me in church.  We talk about a lot of things that aren’t important and some things that are.  21 years ago, I married a wife that has not ceased to love me, and I am not easy to love.  I own a little property not too far from the mountains.  And due in part to the freedoms we enjoy, we can, on a whim, drive inside of those hills for an hour, or a day, and fill up our cup. 

I don’t claim to be a mathematician.  And even if I was, I wouldn’t have the data I need for a basis to the calculations.  But just considering the factors above, what are the odds that I would be born into this place, in this time?

I don’t believe in chance.  I believe in a Power that has a plan for each person.  But that doesn’t necessarily mean that I have no questions about how and why I am where I am.  I do know that I had absolutely no say in any part of the conversation, with whoever had it, concerning where and when I would live.  But somehow, in the foggy mists of time, before consciousness brightened my eyes, I was given a winning ticket. 

I had a greater chance of being killed in the Civil War than being blessed with the life I have now.  My chances were even of being born into a marriage that would end in divorce.  I had a ½ percent chance of living in rural America vs. somewhere else in the world.  There was a 1 in 10 chance that I would attend a private school.  I can’t even begin to imagine the odds of being born into this section of time, with the comforts and conveniences and freedoms we enjoy.  Think about all the people before you.  The ancients, the millions of people that lived before Christ.  The Early Ages, the Middle Ages.  The Vikings and the Aztecs.  The masters and the slaves.  The dictators and the common folks. 

I think I know why I wasn’t compelled to buy a lottery ticket that day.  It’s because I’ve already won.  I’ve been given the best of the best.  Somehow, it made sense to the Lord to put me here, now.  I have no explanation for that. 

When someone beats the odds and wins the big one, they are asked how they plan to spend the money.  What will they do with the winnings?  It’s a fair question, and it demands an answer.  And the weight of it settles on my shoulders. 

And I think, like so many other times, the Psalms says it best. 

I will bless the Lord…  Psalms 16:7