“That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind.” – excerpt from “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom.
As human beings, our lives are constantly changing through the choices we make and the relationships we create. No matter how small or insignificant, a single action can have massive consequences on ourselves and the people around us. When I first read this quote, my mind instantly went to the concept of God’s plan. In this concept, the idea is that our lives are predetermined and that there is a higher being always watching and guiding us in the direction we need to go. Everything that happens to us happens for a reason that only God truly knows. For the nonreligious, this is simply known as fate. To put this concept into a more easily understandable perspective, imagine a hardship such as heartbreak. At the time, it may seem like the world is against you, but as time progresses and you look back on the memories, you start to realize that the heartbreak served a purpose, whether it be discovering a new resolve within yourself or realizing that one person doesn’t dictate your worth. I was raised on the belief that there is a plan for me, a belief that still holds strongly in my mind to this day. While I believe, however, I am aware that there are many who disagree and believe that they hold total control. So to the readers, I ask, what’s your opinion on this topic? Do you believe that there is an outside force steering us in a certain direction, or do you believe something different?