I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of destiny. Was it my destiny to become a writer? Perhaps our mortal journeys are “written in the stars.” According to The Free Dictionary, this phrase means something “caused by the power that is believed to control what happens in people’s lives.” Do certain things happen because they were meant to be? Do we make choices and form relationships because of some powerful cosmic force that steers us in a particular direction?

The reason it’s so hard to wrap our minds around this concept has to do with control. If we accept this notion, it seems to suggest that we think someone else is pulling the strings or at the very least, that our actions are directed by a force outside ourselves. It’s exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. But does believing in destiny equate to believing in supernatural control?

Perhaps it’s easier for me to relate to the concept because I have faith in a God who will guide our footsteps if we ask Him. If I view my destiny as my particular calling or mission in life, pursuing that mission will allow me to reach my greatest potential. All this aside, I don’t believe God forces us to act against our will. We’re the ones who decide our futures.

I started reading and writing at a very young age. Other people began singing, dancing, drawing, or playing sports because they were born with certain gifts. These talents help determine destiny. Many times, I’ve had serendipitous encounters with people who’ve changed the course of my life, and I’d like to think something I’ve done has changed someone else for the better. How often have circumstances aligned in your life to put you in the right place at the right time? Was it destiny?

I leave you with a quote from my favorite movie: “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both are happening at the same time.”  Forrest Gump