Do You Believe In Destiny?
By deeeky
@deeeky (3667)
Edinburgh, Scotland
August 21, 2007 5:17pm CST
During the time of Napoleon I, a great French general names La Variere made the decision to attack, even though his troops were largely outnumbered.
He was certain of victory, but he felt his men's fear and wanted to do something to cut short their protestations.
On a country road he stopped before an isolated chapel and declared, "I am going inside and I will ask for God's help. Then I will come out and flip this gold coin. If our Emperor's face appears we will win. If the other sidecomes up heads, then we will lose. And so, my companions, our fate is in the hands of destiny."
After a few moments in the chapel, La Variere came out and flipped the coin. Napoleon's head appeared. The soldiers shouted and acclaimed their destiny, and the entire company's moral was lifted. Convinced that they would be victorious, they fought with such bravery that they rapidly won the battle.
After the victory Vermont, one of La Variere's adjutants, said, "Oh Sir, no one can change the course of Destiny. This unexpected victory is yet another proof of that."
"Who knows, my dear Vermont, who knows," replied the General, and he showed him the coin on which Napoleon's head appeared... on both sides!
5 responses
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
22 Aug 07
I thought so!! It is a nice story which emphasises on human effort rather than destiny! I always have the feeling that destiny is called 'Destiny' because nobody chose to put in so much effort to change it! I have heard of a wise simile by a great sage who compared destiny to a nail hammered onto a wall. Nobody knows the nature of the wall, of what it is made of, and how much the nail has gone in. So, the amount of effort to unnail it from the wall is not known. As one puts in effort he will be able to understand how much more effort is needed to pull it out. If one leaves his effort the first time he tries thinking it is impossible, then the nail will remain on the wall for what is called destiny. But the wise one will put in effort and such a one will have his destiny in his own hands!!
@deeeky (3667)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
22 Aug 07
Of course it could be said that the nail has been made in such a way that trying to pull it out will only add to the nail staying put by the way it is designed possible similar to a fish hook. So knowing the design of how the nail is made a certain twist and hey presto success.
1 person likes this
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
22 Aug 07
Agreed...but how is one to know how the nail is made. The analogue of the nail is just an example of destiny and free will. Nobody knows how long the nail is, how crooked or hooked it is... practically nothing about when it was nailed. The past is completely unknown. Only the present is in our hands. It is only due to effort and perseverance that the goal is reached. If a certain amount of effort is not sufficient to pull it out, it does not mean that it is not possible. It only means that more effort to necessary!
@kitty1234 (1476)
• United States
21 Aug 07
I do believe in destiny! I think we are guided to the places we need to be by destiny. Destiny controls must of what happens to us in life and when we go in the opposite direction we suffer. Our lives are free choice and it is our decision to follow or not what we know in our hearts to be right.
@claire03 (1443)
• United States
21 Aug 07
i do believe in destiny. in my life there are things that i don't expect to happen but it happens even if you never thought it would happen. i think if it's really destined to happen it will happen. And if it's really meant to be yours then it will b yours.
@Hayley_N (525)
• Argentina
24 Jul 08
for a long long time i believed that we were predestined, but now believe human WILL can overcome predestiny. our will is the one thing separate from the rest of the universe, it's what makes destined losers millionaires and high school drop outs scientific geniuses. no matter how strong the force of destiny pushed one way, human will can push back the other way. when destiny contiinues to push and push, will keeps us pushing back and back until destiny can't push back anymore; and then u still keep pushing and u finally break free of the predestined bubble you're locked in.
so to answer you're question; yes i do believe in fate/destiny, but i believe we can break free of the hold that it has on us.
