Writer's Block: Meant to Be?
May. 5th, 2009 09:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I don't believe in capital-F "Fate" as a fixed destiny decreed by some external power. I do believe that consequences of past actions, in this life or previous ones, impact what follows. I believe that the gods sometimes set up certain circumstances, lead us to certain crossroads, but that we always have the choice of how to respond once we are in those circumstances. I belive that there are human and natural forces external to our immediate lives that can have a powerful impact on us, but these are not necessarily "the hand of fate" -- just the natural consequences of the decisions and actions of others, and/or of the natural processes of nature.
To me, the freedom of choice -- the dignity of choice -- is essential. We are not puppets. We are not helpless characters in a story being written by higher powers. We can not control all our circumstances, but we can control ourselves.* Even when grabbed by the scruff of the neck and dragged to a particular circumstance, we choose what we will do in response.
Without belief in the freedom and dignity of personal sovereignty, I don't see much purpose in life. If it's all out of my hands, why bother with anything? Where is the meaning in effort, in virtue, in service? What meaning does love have if it's not a free response to the beloved? And where's the fun and adventure if everything is already scripted and the ending is already set?
*Caveat here for those individuals who have chemical or other organic imbalances or injuries that have reduced their ability to be in control. To be honest, I haven't worked my theology out far enough to take those people into account. Feel free to chime in with opinions.
I don't believe in capital-F "Fate" as a fixed destiny decreed by some external power. I do believe that consequences of past actions, in this life or previous ones, impact what follows. I believe that the gods sometimes set up certain circumstances, lead us to certain crossroads, but that we always have the choice of how to respond once we are in those circumstances. I belive that there are human and natural forces external to our immediate lives that can have a powerful impact on us, but these are not necessarily "the hand of fate" -- just the natural consequences of the decisions and actions of others, and/or of the natural processes of nature.
To me, the freedom of choice -- the dignity of choice -- is essential. We are not puppets. We are not helpless characters in a story being written by higher powers. We can not control all our circumstances, but we can control ourselves.* Even when grabbed by the scruff of the neck and dragged to a particular circumstance, we choose what we will do in response.
Without belief in the freedom and dignity of personal sovereignty, I don't see much purpose in life. If it's all out of my hands, why bother with anything? Where is the meaning in effort, in virtue, in service? What meaning does love have if it's not a free response to the beloved? And where's the fun and adventure if everything is already scripted and the ending is already set?
*Caveat here for those individuals who have chemical or other organic imbalances or injuries that have reduced their ability to be in control. To be honest, I haven't worked my theology out far enough to take those people into account. Feel free to chime in with opinions.
