Making and Not Making Your Own Luck

On July 4 in the year of 1934, "Joe Louis won his first professional boxing match by knocking out Jack Kracken from Chicago. The 20 year old black heavyweight had just been lifted from the amateur ranks through the skillful training of the veteran black fighter turned manager Jack Blackburn. Among the first things he passed on to the young poker faced fighter was the reality of decision making in the arena. There is no use on the part of a black boxer to complain about unfair judgment by white judges and referees when the fight goes the distance. No argument arises about who has won, however, in the case of knockout. Louis learned quickly and knocked out 10 of his first 12 opponents during the ensuing year." (From the Master Manager by R.G.H. Siu)

In the ring the great Joe Louis made his own luck through skill and hard work. He became the first black athlete to become a hero of both white and black America, particularly in his two famous fights against Max Schmeling, the champion of Hitler's Germany. Joe Louis honorably served his country in the Army during World War II. He eventually was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Legion of Merit medal for "incalculable contribution to the general morale."(Wikipedia)

However, there is a Swedish saying, "Luck never gives. It only loans."

Joe Louis, like so many athletes and entertainers before and since, ended up bankrupt and impoverished at the hands of crooked management, ex-wives, and the IRS. He made unwise decisions in his relationships both financial and personal that destroyed what should have me a great multi-generational fortune for his family and his community. Joe Louis never forgot where he came from. He gave generously, even paying back the city of Detroit for any welfare money his family had received.

This unfortunate story of being both a creator and a victim plays throughout every life to a greater or lesser extent. Some people are successful in their professions, but the children hate and curse them. Other people live in poverty, but dwell in a house filled with love. We seek good advice from the wise and bad advice from our friends who join us in blaming our problems on bad people and powers beyond our control.

On some level, for example, it is obvious I don’t want to hear wise counsel on the subjects of exercise and diet. In my mind I haven’t given up, but it is always something I put off until tomorrow.

Ecclesiastes 8:14-17(NIV)

14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.

15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth -people getting no sleep day or night-

17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.