By Neal Wooten
I’m not a big believer in the supernatural or anything out of the norm. I don’t believe in ghosts, aliens, Bigfoot, or the Psychic’s Friends Network. I do think people really see things at times, but I believe there’s a more logical explanation or it’s their minds playing tricks on them.
But I do believe in luck because I’ve always enjoyed good luck. Once I drove to Birmingham to help a friend deliver an organ to his church. I drove my old Chevy cargo van, the one with the leaky radiator. Halfway back, it overheated, and I had no water or antifreeze in the van. We were miles from any exit and my friend was freaking out.
I never gave it a second thought. I knew we would get out of this predicament and go on to live full lives. So, I simply took advantage of the time to visit Mother Nature. Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go. As I entered the woods, I heard running water. There was a stream of water shooting out of the ground a foot high, running about three feet then disappearing back underground, right in line with my van. We filled the radiator and went on our way.
Things like this happen to me all the time. Even when things seem to go wrong, it usually works out for someone. But to really make me believe in luck, I needed to see it from the other end of the spectrum. I needed to witness someone with bad luck.
A friend of mine in Montgomery was that person. I’ve never known anyone that had so many bad things happen. Once he called to tell me about a tree falling on his newly painted classic sports car, the one he just had painted three days earlier. There was no wind that night, so no one could explain why this 200-year-old Walnut tree suddenly fell. I can explain it, though. I’m sure it fell because my friend parked his car there.
I even put it to a scientific test one day. I took a deck of cards and we drew for high card, a game of pure chance. I drew first then him, shuffling after each draw. Out of 50 times, he only drew the high card twice. Amazing! If I drew a three, he’d find a deuce. If he drew a King, I’d find an ace.
It hasn’t helped me win the lottery, but I’m pretty sure my chances would greatly improve if I ever bought tickets. But I truly believe luck exists, and it exists in two categories–good and bad. So, when I wish you good luck, I’m totally serious.