Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Writing My Own Destiny
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Sunday, 7/07/2002 3:10 AM MDT

Sat sri Akal,

I am a confused young girl just started university.
I am so confused about my place in life and this world, Right now I am in a very difficult emotional relationship where everyday i am getting bad luck towards me yet i love this person so much and one day I hope our parents will accept us as husband and wife. My question is this, for this to happen i need to make a huge effort to do certain things to make our relationship the life long partnership i want it to be. This involves getting myself educated and various other things, of course, all these things I have absolutely no hesitations in doing any of this. But my confusions and hesitations lie here, if Everything is already is already predetermined by God, then what is the point in me even trying to alter the course of my future. I get so depressed and sad for this and I am sick of crying every few days. Dont people have to put in the effort to get their dreams? we cant rest on gods will for everything like this! Only recently i have found gods way again, yet I feel it is slipping away from me again, I dont know how to make sense of these questions spinning around in my head.
Should I sit doing nothing and just hoping god will provide my dream for me or do I put in the effort and get it myself? but doesnt it mean that if I put in all the effort and am rewarded with my goals,wouldnt I have got them anyway because it was meant to be?
Do I sit back and leave everything to divine intervention or what?
I once read a quote that said "truly for some men nothing is written unless they write it themselves"
So what does this mean now? I want to write my own destiny under the guidence and love of the great one. Is this possible?

(REPLY)
God created you, and God lives and breathes in you. Therefore, you have freedom of choice. You can choose to live up to your highest destiny, or you can choose "fate." We were not meant to sit in caves and do nothing, but rather to recognize that everything "we" do is because of God's power inherent in us. God is not separate from you, and the purpose of life is to experience/discover this true identity, this SAT NAM which is your immortal Self. Meanwhile, live righeously, practice kindness, compassion, and try to make the world a better place for your having lived and breathed in it. There is a saying: "God helps those who help themselves." But always remember, your very life is in God's hands. It may seem like a paradox, but the more you read Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the more you meditate and go within, the more your confusion will melt away. Do pray for guidance, and I assure you, it will come! Chanting for 11 minutes (or 31, if you can) every day DHAN DHAN RAM DAS GUR, JIN SIRIA TINEH SAVAARIA... etc. shabd can bring you the "miracle" of clarity. Happiness comes when we discover what God's will really is for us in our lives, and live according to that. When you find yourself depressed and wanting to cry, chant God's Name instead! You have a right to be healthy, happy, and holy, and to claim that birthright, takes a little effort, that's all!

May God bless you and Guru guide you. SP