DESTINY
I was never a huge Star Wars fan, but in this society it’s difficult to escape the impact those movies had on our culture. I’m even susceptible to “The Force,” I sometimes quote in parody from Darth Vader like everyone else in the world.
I’ll use the low drawn out slightly English imitation voice of James Earl Jones as Vader and say to my little one, “Gurm”… “I am your father”! I’ve even on occasion been known to use it on our dog Larry, same voice, same accent, “Lar”… “You are a loser”! I think he likes it, the kids, not so much.
Of all the quotes by the character of Vader the one that caught and still intrigues me is the one spoken to his son young Skywalker, “Luke, it is your destiny”!
Destiny, pretty cool word to ponder, it’s cousin is the word fate with similar meanings. Even non-Christians have some belief in an invisible power that directs and causes events to happen in people’s lives.
How many times have you heard or even thought about a couple, “They were just meant to be together”! Regarding someone’s death we’ve all heard someone say something like, “His number was up.” When we see or know of a person living a dangerous or reckless life, someone might say something like, “They’re tempting fate”!
Many of us believe since we have intelligence and free will we are the captain of our fate, we steer the ship or direct the paths of our lives and whatever happens is up to us.
This subject has tentacles that reach further and deeper, if we chose to go a certain direction in our lives it must have been that invisible power that gave us the desire in the first place… See what I mean?
Many Christians believe in predestination, after all God knows all things, the number of grains of sand on the seashores, the number of hairs on each and every one of our heads, when a sparrow falls from the sky. But, God also says that all people are called by Him and have the choice to accept and believe or deny Him.
I’m puzzled by some people who talk as if God just whispered the mysteries of the cosmos in their right ear. How do we as humans get our mind around the mind that spoke everything into existence including our souls. The One who supplies the very power that sustains all life at this very second.
If our minds were created by God, pretty good chance we have limits far below His. (sarcasm) I believe in the mind and economy of God that He can give free will to everyone and yet know the outcome.
For those reading to young to know what “The Day The Music Died” is, here’s a quick breakdown. Buddy Holly who was one of the most well-known Rock and Roll icons of the 50’s died in a plane crash in 1959 along with up and comer Ritchie Valens and disc jockey turned singer who went by the stage name of The Big Bopper.
It shocked and changed the music world and impacted a nation. I guess you could say it was fate or destiny that they died, Buddy Holly’s bass player pondered his fate for years after. His name was Waylon Jennings and he gave up his seat on the airplane for J P Richardson, the Big Bopper who had the flu.
Waylon Jennings, like his old boss Buddy Holly, had a deep influence on the music world about 15 years later. Maybe it was that same fate or destiny that was responsible 10 years after “The Day The Music Died” for Waylon Jennings to marry a singer-songwriter Jessi Colter who grew up in a Christian home?
Colter who is still in the music business just released her latest, a Christian/Country CD.
Jennings who lived in the southeast valley (of the sun) passed February 13th, 2002. It’s rumored that Jennings at that point in his life a Christian died with a smile on his face.
Destiny? A simple twist of fate?
I’m thinkin’ the hand of God.
What do you think?
patty
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
Me too! I loved his songs ! good story floyd as always!
Floyd
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 12:50 pm
Thanks Patty! Us hillbillies like that kind of music!
Lisa Galati
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 5:17 pm
I also question the word, “luck.” What really is luck? I don’t think anything happens to us based on “luck”. I’m trying to word it very non preachy whenI hear luck given credit for good things that happened. Depending on the person and situation, I might quickly jump in with , “I think God knew exactly what He was doing.” Have a good one!
Floyd
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 6:29 pm
Great point Lees, you said it all, God certainly does know exactly what He’s doing. Maybe we should start wishing each other “good destiny” instead?
Lainey
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 5:41 pm
As a youth, I was fortunate to meet Waylon at the old Red Dog in Tempe. He was totally messed up. I think he must have had something good in him to recog-
nize what he had found in Jessi. If he hadn’t, even if “destiny” had intervened,
he would have turned his back on it.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 6:40 pm
Wow! Good for you Lainey. I love that old music, most people had no idea the influence he had on not just country, but pop in the mid 70’s. I agree there was something definitely good in him. Well said.
brad gore
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 @ 9:15 am
I’ve mentioned to you , I don’t read very much. I really enjoy reading what you share. I also learn alot. I do like to learn. Thank you! Keep writing and I’ll keep reading. I never realized hootin n hollerin Waylon played with Buddy Holly. Boy I bet Waylon and Willie had some interesting stories.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 @ 9:29 am
Thanks Brad, you keep reading, and I’ll keep writing. I bet those two had some real whoppers to share! Waylon did a song late in his career about a dream he had about the rapture. I can’t remember the name of it, if I can find it I’ll send you the link. It is an amazing song, not surprising it didn’t get any air time.
jake
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
I will come straight out with it and say that at this moment in my life, I’m entirely anti-destiny. It’s a reaction to some doctrine that I have been “raised” with (Raised since I was a baby Christian, so only seven years ago). I have seen people with inflated senses of destiny take advantage of people’s draw toward understanding God’s plan for their own lives. I’ve seen a lot of manipulation, all centered around somebody’s sense of “destiny” so I’m done with it for now. It may be good or bad.
I’ve always leaned toward humanistic sense of Christianity… which I need to explain. I think God is active in our lives, I believe that He made us to be certain ways, but I don’t think He micromanages our affairs. I think He’s content if we use the gifts He supplied in such a way that He gets honor. The humanistic side to it all is this… God made incredible creatures. We allow ourselves to admire a sunset, the complicated human eye, but the spirit He placed in us is fascinating. We’re capable of uncommon good or evil with or without Him because he made us this way! Obviously, Jesus people are different from the rest in that we know the source of our “greatness” and attribute it back to Him… am I making sense, or do I sound like a heretic? Ha. Floyd, you make me think. Thank you for that.
Floyd
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:52 pm
I love your honesty. If God knows the very second a single sparrow falls, my thinking is while He gives us free will, He might not be sitting back micromanaging our affairs, but He is watching. I think that the example of Waylon Jennings, which you might be too young to know, is one of those facts that just makes me believe in destiny, which the secular world has stolen and polluted. So the big question is this, “Did you listen to the song”!!!
jake
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 6:38 pm
ha ha ha, I’m not going to lie, I don’t like any music made before the 80s, unless it comes with a full orchestra 😉 I looked the lyrics up though. We do get to make decisions and God does His thing too. I know that He totally intervenes for us… So…. yes.
Pat
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
I was going back over your blog site to see if there was anything I had missed and sure enough…
Wow! This was a very thought-provoking post!
First, let me say that after reading every blog you’ve written to this poing (I think), I agree with your theology, Floyd; we are like-minded. This is what I have come to believe on this particular topic: God has a PERFECT will and a PERMISSIVE will, which may be what Jake is talking about. For example, I have been in what I think might be termed as God’s “permissive will” many times but I much prefer God’s “perfect will”. Even in God’s permissive will, I find that something is missing. For me personally, history has shown that I am at my best and have the greatest peace when I am in His perfect will. I believe that God allows us to get away with a lot. Maybe I’m just getting too old to play that game anymore. Great post!
Floyd
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
Thanks Pat, what a compliment coming from you! His perfect will transcends all tribulation in our lives. Of course I didn’t learn that the easy way!