Destiny

Sometimes I find myself longing for the past more than looking to the future. That does seem to be happening more these days than it used to. I think most of us feel that from time to time. The good old days. We long for them. When we were younger we had certain milestones we looked forward to. Things like getting a drivers license and graduating school. The future held much promise and was anticipated. As the years go by it can appear otherwise. The grass on the other side of the fence isn't always greener and that lesson can be met with sorrow. Then we may find the grass is greener and the reason for that.. The grass has been fertilized. We all know what makes a great fertilizer and it isn't pleasant. And most,if not all of us, have stepped in that.

“A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.” 

These words were spoken by General George S Patton. I find them to be true and inspirational. Some say Patton was an egotist and a bit touched. I think he just believed. He believed in himself and his purpose. He was convinced, since an early age, of his destiny. He knew he was to be a soldier and a leader of men. He went forward with all the confidence in the world. His brashness was misunderstood and some were offended, it made no difference to Patton. He had the guts ! 

Like Patton I believe we all have a destiny. Forrest Grump thought so too. The parallels have not been lost on me. Both man and character just moved forward, convinced of their actions. Both had a singleness of purpose. The major difference between the two, the man and the character, is Patton knew he was to be a General someday, but the character just answered fate with compliance. Forrest just went with the flow. We can learn a lot from both.

I believe we look to the past because of the comfort there. We can rest. There is nothing we can do to change anything there, so there are no actions to take. We can look back and relive past accomplishments. If we are wise we will learn from those past experiences. The truly wise will recognize the forks in the road and which ones were taken. That is what Patton was talking about when he said, " fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take ", in other words knowing the highways. Where has that path of action taken you before ? Like another notable man said, " Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. " That was Einstein. 

Everything we have done in our lives served a purpose. I believe that. We may or may not be aware of what that purpose was. If we are still here than our purpose has not been fully completed. We still have more to do. Call it fulfilling a destiny if you like, or just call it life, it makes little difference. The important thing to recognize is that you are here to serve a purpose. That purpose lies in your future, not your past. Fate is in the future also. Patton said, " if he has the imagination ", and I think that means a dream, you will see your destiny, your destination. Do you get to choose ? Yes, I think you do. If you also believe in God and free will than you would have to reach that conclusion. I can see no other option. We are given the chance. Once, twice or at the most three times ? Perhaps, but I think the choice is there as long as we live.