Who Decides Our Fate
Fate is defined as a predetermined course of events, independent of our actions, or so say science and literature. Yet, when things don't go as planned, or when one gets cornered in life, one can't help but ponder. The definition starts to look a little farce. One starts questioning the path chosen and often asks, "Who decides my fate, if not me?" I too belong to such a band of abashed souls, hopefully seeking an answer.
God and Fate
I have always wondered about a supernatural entity governing the cosmos, one that holds us accountable for our deeds, irrespective of our caste and creed. I am not an atheist; I don't deny God's existence. Rather, I prefer calling myself an agnostic-theist, as I personally cannot prove his existence. Since we don't seem to decide our own fate, I suspect it must be this supernatural entity, the so-called "God", governing our lives. This belief makes me all the more anxious to understand the parameters on which our deeds are adjudged, and the factors that aid God in shaping our so-called fate.
The Unexplained Part
Fate doesn't have a specific timeline, it is dynamic in nature. It is right to say that a man's fate changes every second, or that fate is revealed to him second by second. I have asked many people to shed light on this and have come across varied views.
Some held that men's fate is governed by the stars, the layout of heavenly bodies playing an important role in the course of one's life. Astrology, a pseudo-branch of science, studies precisely this.
Failure and success seem to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their star or against it. — E.M. Forster
Others held that fate is the resultant of Karma, action and its automatic consequence. For every choice one makes, there is a just outcome. The law of karma is simply: as you sow, so shall you reap.
Men are not punished for their sins, but by them. — Elbert Hubbard
Then there are those who believe fate doesn't exist at all. Life is simply an autobiography, every event a pure aftermath of a chain of actions, direct or indirect. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and nothing more.
There's much to be said for challenging fate instead of ducking behind it. — Diana Trilling
And finally, some believe fate is a path chosen for us by the almighty, his mysterious way of making one wiser. Every second of life that we have lived is fate accompli.
When God closes a door he opens a window, and sometimes he'll kick a whole wall down. — Ryan Murphy
Each of these holds its own truth, and I sat with all of them for a long time.
My Take, The Mid-Course Correction
All of the above are points of view, and hence, each holds true for its believer. I respect them all. With nothing proven, I choose to lean toward the most optimistic one: that we are treading a path chosen by the almighty, and every obstacle only makes us wiser, giving us a chance to correct course.
A ship is flagged off from port with a set of directions. After covering a hundred miles, it unexpectedly encounters a large wave. It is then the Captain's decision to take a detour or correct course to avoid impact. That is the mid-course correction.
Similarly, God seldom gives us chances to make such corrections in life. In order to steer in a positive direction, we must make the most of them. He has his own mysterious ways of imparting wisdom. Like the smart people say, there is always a catch. We just need to decipher it.
In the bout of life, fate is like a tough opponent who at times strikes real hard. face him and learn from him so that next time you give him a good fight anyhow. — the author