Rosh Hashanah 2013: Good Luck, Bad Luck

Our history is very complex- the good and the bad are intertwined, and as we read in our second day Rosh Hashanah Haftorah by the prophet Jeremiah, (Ch 31) God loves us even in the dark times and promises that things will get better.

This past Spring I heard a folk song written and sung by Joe Crookston that captured my attention. It felt like I had heard the story before.

Here are the verses:

 Good Luck, Bad Luck

John had a horse and the horse ran away

Bad luck, bad luck.

John had a horse and the horse ran away

Bad luck, bad luck.

“Bad luck, bad luck” the neighbors did say.

“Bad luck John has come your way.

 Bad luck has come your way.”

 He said, “Maybe, it’s hard to say.” 2X

Well the horse came back with a wild, wild mare

Good luck, good luck.

The horse came back with a pretty wild mare.

Good luck, good luck.

“Good luck, good luck,” the neighbors did say,

Good luck John has come your way.

Good luck has come your way.”

He said, “Maybe, it’s hard to say.” 2X

Well the mare kicked John and broke his leg

(Bad luck, bad luck.)

With a broken leg he missed the draft

(Good luck, good luck.)

Well the Army came and walked on past

(Good, good luck.)

Well his leg grew worse and it would not heal

(Bad luck, bad luck.)

And the pain was all that John could feel

(Bad luck, bad luck.)

Well the nurse she came to take care of

(Good luck, good luck.)

And the two of them they fell in love

(Good luck, good luck.)

Good luck, good luck, the neighbors did say

Good luck John has come your way.

Good luck has come your way.

He said, “Maybe, it’s hard to say.” 2X

This song reminded me of a story about Rabbi Akiva that I only remembered partially (bad luck, bad luck). However, I was able to find it on the internet (good luck, good luck). Rabbi Akiva was a famous rabbi who lived about 2,000 years ago.

Here is the story as told in the collection of rabbinic writings called the Talmud, in the book called Brachot (60b). Once Rabbi Akiva was traveling with a donkey, rooster, and candle and when night came he tried to find lodging in a nearby village,  but all the lodging places were full and he was turned away. Rabbi Akiva had no choice but to spend the night in the field, but he did not let that get him down. Instead his said, "Gam zu l’tovah.” Literally it means “also this is for the good, but it is usually translated as “Everything God does is for the best".

Well, a wind came and blew out his candle, and then a cat came and ate his rooster, and then a lion came and ate his donkey. No candle, no rooster, no donkey.  Still Rabbi Akiva said " Gam zu l’tovah. Everything that God does is for the best".  That night a group of soldiers came and took the entire town captive. Rabbi Akiva who was sleeping in the field went unnoticed and so was spared. When Rabbi Akiva realized what happened he said, "Didn't I tell you that gam zu l’tovah? Everything that God does is for the best"?"

The well known rabbinic commentator Rashi explains that if Rabbi Akiva had still had his candle, his rooster or his donkey, the soldiers would have seen or heard them, and he would also have been captured.

Can we look back and see the good that has come out of our hard times? The lessons we have learned from dealing with difficult people? Can we see the ways we have grown through our trials, and let go of our anger? If we can do that, we too can say "Gam zu l'tovah," also this is for the good. Then for us, whatever happens, it will be a Shanah Tovah.