Small Choices in a Chosen Path

Today, I am back thinking on a concept that I have referenced on here in different blog posts over the months and years... determinism.  It is the belief that there is little free will, because ultimately one thing affects another thing and every moment is the result of the forces of past choices by others, ourselves, and other natural forces and qualities.

It is true that we do have some influence to make some choices along our path.  But, we all do still find ourselves in any given moment with limited options if we want to find what we need.  It reminds me of the movie Serendipity, which I have seen many times.  In one scene, Jonathan is questioning Sara about her belief in destiny, asking if we have no choice in it at all.  She says..

"No, I think we make our own decisions.

I just think that fate sends us little signs,

and it's how we read the signs that determinas whether we're happy or not."

I think that  is a little too absolute, as I do believe that there are different paths that can lead to happiness, but it is true that in any given situation, we can choose to make decisions and do actions that are beneficial to us or worse for us.

 

HOWEVER, those choices that led you to where you make the decision are often influenced by other circumstances and decisions of us or othes, and decisions by others and circumstances will close doors and lead to others.  And, personality types and desires and locations of children and more will influence the other decisions that follow.

Yet, I do not want this to be seen as an entirely negative thing.  There is a beauty to it.  It's science.  We try things and places and people and more.  Things harmonize or they don't.  Social environments appear, and then they leave.  Some remain, and others appear.  And, we keep testing all of our lives, and that is what leads us and guides us in our decisions.

So, I don't have all the answers for my life, primarily because for the largest part of the chapters I am not holding the pen.  But, I do want to play an active part in it, and I look forward to what I may discover in the next one I begin.

Successfully Un "Blessed"

As I enter into a highly prosperous present and future, I must reiterate that it was my own determination and actions that brought it about... not God.  And... I think that's God's plan.  Indeed.. I doubt very seriously if the hard, evangelical right would argue with me about that point.  

After all, they have been watching my every hiccup like a hawk to see of God would FINALLY put me in my place... because I dared to question religion and point out the hypocrisy of his church.  Their worldview MUST have a "good" side and a 'bad" side, which typically is whatever side that differs than their own image or preference.  That's how diversity... different lifestyles or cultures than theirs .. becomes an evil thing that must be silenced and exiled.. or controlled.

I've given them a lot of reasons to find me "evil" by defending witches, gays, trans people, opposing political parties, minorities and poor people.  So, my success, instead, must confuse them.  Every other day, I see people say that GOD will deliver and prosper them.  Most, actually, live lives with as much challenge that I face or more.  I chose, instead, to follow a logical path that says... well... to get to this destination I need to walk (myself) in that direction by doing A, B, C, etc.  Then, when I get there without the sky falling on me, they have to either say I should thank God for the results of my logical actions that brought it about or that the "devil" brought it about... because if MAN is responsible for their own lives, they would have a lot to answer for and a lot to do.

In the end of The Adjustment Bureau, the divine like figure rewrites "the plan" that had tried to separate them, because the couple chose to do it, anyways... and the movie concluded that maybe that was the plan, all along.. that we take responsibility for our own lives.

So.. hopefully, my life will serve as inspiration that if you're tired of praying without results that maybe "God" is waiting for you to make decisions and take actions in your own life... and thank yourself that you had the wisdom and will to finally be a mature human.