Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Winds of Fate





One ship drives east and another drives west, 
With the self-same winds that blow,
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
That tell them the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the winds of fate,
As we voyage along through life,
'Tis the set of the soul
That decides its goal
And not the calm or the strife.

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox


The Fate versus Free Will battle has gone on for centuries.  What do you believe?  Do you believe that our lives are guided by fate, that we choose our destiny before we are born?  Or do you believe that there is no such thing as destiny of fate?  That only we decide on how are live will be and are given the free will to shape it?  Or, do you believe as I do that fate and free will are both working in our lives? Fate and freewill are intertwined.

The weather here has been dreadfully cold. In fact, Mother Nature has blessed us with the coldest temperatures in two years.  On the subway yesterday I listened while others complained.  We've become such a spoiled lot. I can  remember days when even in the train station my feet felt like they were going to fall off.  Now, a few cold days and no one knows how to act.  I guess I can take it more because I grew up in a cold countryside.  Northern New Jersey can have some brutal winters.

I'm off work today.  I have an appointment later with my pulmonologist.  This is one appointment I have been dreading.  In fact, I found myself putting it off and did so for far too long.  Pretending it isn't there is not going to make it go away. In yesterday's post I spoke of courage.  Well, where has my courage gone when it comes to following up on my health?  I go to my regular doctor faithfully, but as she says, "You never follow through with what I tell you."  Well, I am following through now, and no matter what, I will deal with it.  I've a lot of love surrounding me, and a lot of wonderful friends, meaning you, who are here for me.  What more can a person want out of their life?


Sometimes fate brings two people together by causing one to misinterpret a smile. 

Robert Brault

I do love the above quote. It so reminds me of the day I met my husband. Who knew that I would find the love of my life on a park bench in 
Washington Square Park. Now if it wasn't fate that guided us there, what else was it? And afterwards, free will took over as we made decisions that changed our lives.

10 comments:

  1. I believe the same as you do Mary.

    Blessings,
    Chung

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  2. Hmmm, I'm on the side of free will. I'm just tooooooooooo stubborn to accept that some Fate has Written Everything, for me. -grin-

    As to those "interesting" things, which happen, along the way... I side with synchrinosity. That if we are tuned to open-ness and to certain things, we and they cross paths. In some way.

    Best of luck with today's doc visit.

    Hugs,
    "Auntie"

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  3. I will be thinking about you today, Mary...good luck at the doctor! And stay warm. It was minus 3 this morning when I got up.

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  4. I like you believe in a combo. of fate and free will. Destiny, perhaps? I love when two people meet like you and hubby did. Gives me hope. Sending you lots of blessings for your apt. today.

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  5. Good luck today, Mary. You ARE brave - and your actions and choices in your life prove that.

    As for fate, I believe in it and in Karma, and not in a punishing way, but a learning way. We have certain experiences we came here to have but our reactions to these experiences are probably more of the free will variety. Having said that, I think it's way more complicated than this because how interrelated we all are, and my actions can change the experience (hence the fate) of someone else and so on and so on - the domino effect. Now some would say this whole process itself is fated. I'm just not sure. While I do believe that everything is fated, I'm not always sure what the purpose of each experience is. Perhaps some things or aspects of situations are fated yet the smaller details aren't. This is a great mystery.

    And yes, as with your example, The Bard and I were fated. I can't go into detail, but it was one of those almost impossible things.

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  6. I believe in Sacred Contracts Mary and that we show up in the universe when we are exactly supposed to be, and who we are to be with. Call it fate, destiny, what you will.
    I too believe in Karma and free will as it is all interelated as Aine has pointed out.

    Good for you for following up with your pulmonologist! You are a Brave Girl! :)
    Courage Dear Sweet Sister of mine!!!
    Love and Blessings...
    xoxoxo

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  7. Holding all good thoughts/intentions for your appointment. And I love your story - Washington Square Park is one of my favorite places, quite perfect for a meeting such as yours.

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  8. I've got you in my thoughts today. Stay positive, think good things.

    My position on this fate thing has and is continualy evolving. Once a devout Catholic, next an athiest, continuing on my path to believing in something again. Not knowing what for sure.
    A popular saying when I was in Nam was "What goes around, comes around". I think that sort of falls into the Karma believe. We reap what we sow. I'm off and on about there being an external influence. X.

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  9. I am late but still wishing you good, good luck and hopefully some milder temps!

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