Of Fatalism
Many people say we have free will
and some try to bolster us with quotes like
“Faith can move a mountain.”
Some people ask for prayers
when they are hurting or ill.
Yes, prayers may help ease pain
or even produce miracles.
But who’s to say that prayers
have really made the difference?
Do you ever stop to ask yourself why it is
that some faithful people pray relentlessly
and their prayers for comfort go unanswered,
while other such people pray for relief
and their miracles are simply granted?
Do you ever wonder why some good people
drop dead in their prime (for no real sensible reason),
yet someone like an addict to tobacco
might live to be one-hundred?
Why do some folks have bestowed on them
much success or riches?
Others seem mainly to meet with misfortune
or to struggle to survive.
Some, on their death bed, defeat the reaper!
Others hear him knocking at their door
and easily succumb.
I’ve given it much thought
and have come to this conclusion:
what we do in life and how and when we die
are already known by God.
He even knows how we will react
in all situations,
and so our own demise is already known to God,
and our death will be when it is meant to be!
Because God already knows ALL,
our destiny, you might say,
truly is “written in the stars.”
Do we really have free will?
I think that free will involves the way we choose
to react to the life we are born into.
Each of us is given different challenges.
Even those born unable to think for themselves
have a purpose. They are here
to test the patience of their caretakers,
and their reward is already certain!
How do we react to the life we are given?
What do we do with our God-given talents
(whether they be many or few)?
Each of us is given different trials in life.
Free will basically involves
our attitude about our life’s situations
and how we let this attitude affect our choices.
God already knows what that will be!
Therefore, I can say wholeheartedly
I accept the philosophy
of fatalism.
Aug. 24, 2022
For Edward Ibeh's This Or That, Vol 13 Poetry Contest
Copyright © Andrea Dietrich | Year Posted 2022
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