Blessed? Fortunate? Lucky?

I've said lucky and been corrected.  I've said fortunate and been told no, that's God's work.  But, you know...while I wish everyone blessings regularly, pray often and believe in a higher power, I can't seem to say "blessed" when I'm describing my own or someone else's life's win.  The words get stuck.  I cringe when I hear someone else explain their life's win as being "blessed".  I feel a ping of "ick" inside every time.  Because to me, saying "blessed" to describe an advantage in life seems like God picks and chooses.  I understand the fundamental intent to appreciate your opportunities and advantages in life.  I do.  But, it skeeves me out to think a greater power arbitrarily answers one person's prayer while ignoring another.  "This one's prayer will be answered in the nick of time, but that one...they will keep falling til they hit rock bottom and have nothing left to live for.  This one gets a better hand in life, that one...well, let's make that one always work harder than everyone else but never really get ahead.  This guy....I give him....hmmmm...him, I give unlimited wealth while the rest of that bunch will always struggle.  You over there, you will loose a child, but you over here, your family will thrive.   I think I'll have this one horribly disfigured in an accident, but this one will be picture perfect!".  

​What I believe is we are all here of our own free will.  We make life choices along the way that help shape our lives.  I don't believe a higher power picks and chooses.  Sure, some have advantages over others.  Maybe it's coincidence, maybe it's the decisions made by the people who came before them, perhaps it's an accumulation of their own decisions, maybe it's the coming together of many things that creates that lucky break.  Maybe it's timing.  Maybe every advantage or opportunity is merely a small miracle, a lining up of stars on the 3rd Tuesday of the month during a harvest moon.  Maybe there's a kazillion variables in the equation and we'll never truly know.  Whatever.  But what I can't buy into a thought process that says a higher power sits and chooses who gets a break and who gets a struggle.  I can't.  I do think there is such a thing as divine intervention, but let's reel it in some and stop acting like that happens on a day to day, minute to minute basis.

So, if you see me get excited over winning $20 off a scratch off ticket, please don't correct me and tell me I'm blessed.  I will look you right in the eye, say today's my lucky day, then punch you in the throat.  Namaste.