Lately it seems nearly everyone I talk either leads in or
finishes our conversation by saying: “Everything happens for a reason.” And I was beginning to believe that. It made sense. And the circumstances I faced certainly
supported that explanation.
But no more!
I do not believe that, and I never have, nor ever will! We are not puppets dangling by the strings of
fate, controlled by some great god. The
events of our lives are not predetermined by some master mind creator for
purposes that we will forever struggle to understand.
Though we may try, and invent elaborate stories to convince ourselves
and rationalize our actions, we humans are not above the laws of nature. I believe that events occur in our lives and we
respond to them. This is the way of the
universe – cause and effect. And we have two options: we can ignore the natural response; we can
overlook the phenomena leading to the event, cry or chalk it up to fate, and
continue traveling lost in the maze of questions and suffering.
Or, we can respond and adapt. We can look back with intro- and
extrospection at the metamorphosis that occurred in our minds and our worlds to
yield the event, and learn. We can
cleanse our minds of the guilt, anger, and sadness, and with a still mind take
heed of the lessons and help ourselves and others.
It is the butterfly effect (thanks Tash!). The caterpillar must be internally courageous
as he enters the coxcomb, for he shall soon die. But by letting go of his past life he can
emerge a new being: a beautiful and free creature. And then he can set forth on the winds of
nature, ever floating with the currents, never against, satisfied of life and fulfilled
of heart.
Jason Cholewa, Ph.D
