Life is a Matter of Luck
Life is a matter of luck, and the odds in favor of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution.
— WWII German U-Boat Commander Eric Topp
I came across this quote at the end of the book Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and was struck by its weight. While I cannot ascribe to the worldview that says that "life is a matter of luck," I am particularly drawn to the idea that extreme caution is NOT a good way to live life - no matter what your worldview.
I happen to believe that God is the Supreme Being of universe and that He does involve Himself with human affairs in an active way. But, I do not believe that He actively approves of everything that happens on the Earth. I remember having a discussion with a friend once who expressed his understanding of God's sovereignty. He said that he had always assumed that everything that happened in and on the Earth, had proceeded down a kind of c,osmic conveyor belt over which God presided. Anything that God did not want to end up on Earth, He would remove, and anything that He was okay with, was allowed to proceed.
I don't think God set the universe up quite like that. I do believe He knows everything that is going to happen (as well as what could happen in any and all possible alternate worlds to this one) and that He selected this world out of the many possible worlds to bring into existence. And I also believe that God responds to prayer and changes things in the world frequently. But I do believe that He set things into motion according to the laws of the universe (which He established).
Among these laws of the universe are the scientific laws like the law of gravity, the laws of thermodynamics, the laws of conservation of mass and energy and so on. But I think there are also laws that govern the universe that are as real as the scientific laws but are not immediately provable via the scientific method (and this is partly because that they are not scientific laws). These types of laws are things like the law of sowing and reaping (or karma), the laws of servanthood, the law of the opposite and so on.
I believe it is fair to say that none of these laws seem to indicate that living one's life with extreme caution is the best (or even safest) plan. What think you?
— WWII German U-Boat Commander Eric Topp
I came across this quote at the end of the book Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and was struck by its weight. While I cannot ascribe to the worldview that says that "life is a matter of luck," I am particularly drawn to the idea that extreme caution is NOT a good way to live life - no matter what your worldview.
I happen to believe that God is the Supreme Being of universe and that He does involve Himself with human affairs in an active way. But, I do not believe that He actively approves of everything that happens on the Earth. I remember having a discussion with a friend once who expressed his understanding of God's sovereignty. He said that he had always assumed that everything that happened in and on the Earth, had proceeded down a kind of c,osmic conveyor belt over which God presided. Anything that God did not want to end up on Earth, He would remove, and anything that He was okay with, was allowed to proceed.
I don't think God set the universe up quite like that. I do believe He knows everything that is going to happen (as well as what could happen in any and all possible alternate worlds to this one) and that He selected this world out of the many possible worlds to bring into existence. And I also believe that God responds to prayer and changes things in the world frequently. But I do believe that He set things into motion according to the laws of the universe (which He established).
Among these laws of the universe are the scientific laws like the law of gravity, the laws of thermodynamics, the laws of conservation of mass and energy and so on. But I think there are also laws that govern the universe that are as real as the scientific laws but are not immediately provable via the scientific method (and this is partly because that they are not scientific laws). These types of laws are things like the law of sowing and reaping (or karma), the laws of servanthood, the law of the opposite and so on.
I believe it is fair to say that none of these laws seem to indicate that living one's life with extreme caution is the best (or even safest) plan. What think you?
posted by Andrew Cromwell at
1:42 PM
1 Comments:
Extreme caution seems to betray a lack of faith / trust in God "who is our very present strength in time of trouble." On the other hand, wanton recklessness betrays a lack of wisdom. There seems to be a continuum of principles that are reflections of the variable life responses of our Lord as our Example of life on earth. He did not rely on keeping laws or maintaining biblically based restrictions as a means to obligate the Father to keep Him safe. In fact, in His faith and wisdom, He went into the jaws of the battle for our souls with reckless abandon for His personal safety. Being alive exposes us to risk to which we respond by reckless faith, boldness, and caution each in their turn through wisdom. Bill Oldham, M.Div., Licensed Professional Counselor
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