There is much debate about ‘Free Will’ vs. ‘Predestined Life Patterns’... and most will tell you that, in fact, you have little, if any, true Free Will.... I couldn't disagree more...
Consider the blatantly self-indulgent excuses:- “Sorry, I just can’t help myself... It’s my Nature, it’s who I am, can’t help it... Well, what’s the point of trying, it’s all predestined, anyway... I was born this way... [and my favorite] It’s not my fault, Officer, God made me do it...”
[Oh yes, that one always makes me snicker]...
The idea that one is born ‘this way, or that’ is simply an excuse to not do any work towards personal growth; and more, they’re quite happy to lay the blame for their own negative responses on some illusionary belief that ‘there’s no such thing as Free Will’...
Such utter nonsense is a clear demonstration of a self-indulgent, dark Lower Nature.
So, do we not have ‘predestined patterns’...? What about Karma...or ‘situations beyond our control’ [think devastating floods / wars / economic collapse / major illnesses / death of loved ones...]
Of course these things exist, and in most cases cannot be avoided.
They are extremely challenging - yes, absolutely - and are very traumatic... and they will have a tremendous impact on the emotional body, and go even further to cloud your thoughts and behavior...
Yes, there will be many days when you are confused, angry, fearful, lonely, totally lost... and even question ‘God’s Will’...
This is quite normal, and not to be judged or criticized... rather, it is a human phase that is to be experienced... processed... and emerged from with renewed clarity as to what is valuable... what is precious... what is to be cherished in Life... and here is the demonstration of Free Will ...!
I am not denying that often Life sucks... that there are events that feel overwhelming, out of control, abusive, and even unfair...
Yes, all that is true... but guess what - you have Free Will... and you get to use it to create changes... to gain a better understanding of what you want your Life to be... and what you need do to make it all happen...
And sometimes it takes hardship to make us wake up... I met a man, married to a wonderful woman and with three lovely young children, who was such a dedicated provider that often worked late in the day, and frequently on weekends... until a near fatal heart-attack made him realize that his family was more precious than the next dollar...
At this point he faced a cross-road in his Life and had to make some major choices: he could continue with the same old patterns of ‘duty-above-all / be a good provider / money rules’...or he could realize one of the greatest Spiritual Truths:- Life is to be lived joyfully...
And so, no matter what is happening around you - or to you - it is simply a test of your Free Will... What will you do now...? Bitch and complain, and find some excuse to blame someone else [politicians are great at this!], or will you take a step back, remove yourself from the confusion of your wounded, beat up emotional self... take a deep breath, clear your mind, and consider what makes you happy... what will fulfill your Life... what are the riches that are truly precious to you...
Do you have Free Will ? You bet’cha...
Do you have ‘predestined patterns’ ? Oh yes... but none of this matters ...
The Path of Evolution is based on Light and Enlightenment - and not on negativity and Darkness...not on bitter limitations and wallowing in a ‘poor-me’ attitude...
So embrace the opportunity to create a better - and joyful - Life... to release the old, and embrace a greater view of what your future can offer you...
And if you should fall - so what, pick yourself up and move on... That is your choice...!
And so I greet you all, my wonderful brothers and sisters... Namaste...