Meant to Be

I hear and read the phrase, "meant to be".  f or instance:

• “Our love was meant to be."
• “God spared me from the disaster in which 82 other people died.  It was meant to be.  I have something yet to do in this world."
• “She was meant to be a Christian from before the beginning of time.  She’s so perfect at it!"

Of course, it is normal to feel "special" when something goes right, when we don't die in  the car wreck, when we have a great relationship.  But really:  is anything "meant to be"?

If something was "meant to be", I think human freedom would be negated.  Let me ask it this way:  If a person is born Hungarian, or Swedish, or Zulu, is that person meant be wealthy, or persecuted or ignorant?  In other words, if the country or culture of a person's birth doesn't just happen, but was meant to be, does that mean the person cannot sink below or rise above circumstances by choosing wisely, working fiercely or smoking dope?  (Or sucking up to a crime lord or crooked politician?)

I love to think I'm special to the universe, or to God, or to circumstances.  But I also love to think that my choices matter.  

How about you?  What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know.