Path of Life

Posted on Tue 06/28/05 in My So Called Blog

I’d like to reflect on the idea that each of our lives follows a path. I occasionally think about the events and decisions that have brought me to my current existence.

Consider the following two paragraphs as one aspect of my life:

I married a few weeks ago a woman who I had been enamored by since our first meeting, nearly seven years ago. I’ve loved others before her, but she is different; I have chosen to spend the balance of my life with her, exclusively… to make the only life-long commitment I’ve made thus far in my lifetime. Why was I put with this person? How did I end up meeting her? Was it because of choices I made or becasue of a pre-set path made for me to follow?

In 1996 I moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida, and I had intended to walk-on to the football team. However, while I was walking towards the athletic department to sign up, I decided not to play. I did not realize the impact that decision could have on my life’s path from that point.

The chain of events leading to my marriage with Beth might not have occurred had I played football in college:

Not playing football—-> Time available to work—-> Job at Best Buy—-> Met Donnie at Best Buy—-> Met Beth through Donnie’s girlfriend—-> Married Beth

Besides considering this path, consider the paths of the others involved which put everyone in their particular places so that the ultimate event (the marriage) could happen.

Did my choices lead me to that place and time or were my actions and decisions part of God’s Plan?

I’d like to think it was a little of both.

Extend this idea to lottery winners and those killed in freak accidents, with which a slight deviation in action changed their lives completely…. or possibly ended it.

Imagine the tireless mind-journey you could undertake if you began to analyze every fork you came and how it has impacted your life. How far could you go back? How far would you look into your future decisions. The answer seems perpetually out of reach.

Something to add?

# jim miles wrote on Wed 06/29/05 at 12.00 PM:

God’s Plan…
Interesting concept.
Chain of events, “did my choices lead me,” or was I led here by God?
Or could it be both?
If we’re bringing God into it, could he not have brought you and Beth together in a thousand different ways, if that was his plan?
Are there a thousand different girls out there with whom you potentially could have experienced this same kind of loving commitment? And if so, does God let us choose the one we want?
Is there a Plan that God has for our lives that restricts us to certain directions/careers/friends/events or does he have Plan B, Plan C, Plan FFF.A.2.3603?

Your post is great because of the questions it raises.

# aaron wrote on Fri 07/01/05 at 10.32 AM:

Some other good questions raised, Jim. This concept would make a good real-world explanation of “infinity” in a religious-based math class.

# Laraine wrote on Thu 07/07/05 at 11.22 AM:

Just watch “Sliding Doors” Aaron, if you haven’t already….one of my favorite movies of all time. In the end, everything works out the way it is supposed to. Congrats on the marriage….and baby!

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