A Little Stitious (Part 2)

So, what’s on my mind?

Around this time last year my weekly newsletter titled, “A Little Stitious” talked about humanity’s silly attempts to control uncontrollable outcomes with quirky do’s and don’ts like avoiding walking under ladders to prevent bad luck. The title itself comes from a character in the sitcom The Office who says, “I’m not superstitious. But I am a little stitious.”

Well, this past week I caught myself knocking on wood. And my natural curiosity prompted me to look into the origin of this superstition. While there are several origin stories out there, the main theories trace this practice back to pagan Celtic cultures that believed the spirits and gods resided in trees. A knock was a call for protection or a way to show gratitude for a stroke of fortune.

Other popular theories tie the practice to a 19th century children’s game like tag where the tree was considered “base.” By the way, in Britain they say “touch wood.” There’s even a Christian tradition tied to knocking on wood in which the wood symbolizes the cross. Who knew?

The truth is, people have always looked for ways to feel a little safer in an unpredictable world. We cross our fingers, wear lucky shirts during big games, avoid saying certain things out loud, and yes… sometimes knock on wood. Most of us do these things jokingly, but underneath them is a very human desire: we want reassurance that things will be okay.

Faith, however, invites us to place our trust somewhere deeper than rituals or luck. The psalmist writes, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Notice the verse doesn’t say God prevents every hardship or guarantees every outcome we want. It says God is present. That’s an important difference.

Superstitions are often attempts to control life. Faith is learning to trust God with life. One leads us to anxiety because we can never do enough to guarantee the future. The other leads us to peace because our hope rests not in our ability to control circumstances, but in God’s presence through them.

Now, to be clear, if you see me knock on wood sometime soon, don’t judge me too harshly. Old habits die hard. But maybe moments like that can also remind us where our true confidence belongs—not in luck, rituals, or superstition, but in the One who holds our future in His hands.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester