This story has always been intriguing to me, in part, because of how passive the man seems to be. The thing I take from it is the myth of luck. My interpretation is that life has a certain amount of coincidence and perceived randomness. To try and blame these for how content you are with life is a useless endeavor at best, fatalistic at worst. In the end, though, the take away is the same. If your story isn't over, don't stop being the protagonist.