There is a vast amount of talking in the present day about “Freewill” and “Fate.” It seems that the majority of society believes that their surroundings and circumstances – their state of affairs – are caused by the subtle, mysterious workings of an omnipotent power, over which they are powerless.
The name of this power, they call “Fate.” And while they vastly disagree on exactly what it is, what it does, and what makes it operate, they do, nevertheless, agree, excluding the acts of
God, that it somehow controls their actions, movements, and circumstances; predestinating them to a prescribed state of affairs – each to his or her own varying degrees of wealth or poverty; health or sickness; happiness or sadness, and a score of other things in between.
While there is, admittedly, some circumstantial evidence that is habitually construed to support their belief in “Fate,” there is no actual concrete proof that could justify a dogmatic view in favor of it. However, the same cannot be said of “Freewill.” There is just too much available tangible evidence to ignore its validity. And because of this fact, the minority – those individuals within it who actually believe in “Freewill” – the belief that we are independent agents responsible largely for our own state of affairs, feel strongly that claim to a belief in “Fate” is a pretentiously evadable tactic used by those within the majority to deny responsibility for their state of affairs – their particular levels of poverty or wealth, happiness or sadness, etc., and to justify their failure to take corrective action to better their state of affairs.
So numerous are the examples that could be given, if space permitted, that support the validity of “Freewill,” and which examples would work, perhaps as well, I have nevertheless chosen Henry Ford because his story is most remarkable in that it embodies, as nearly as possible, the actual essence of “Freewill.” Henry Ford made a monumental decision at the young age of 16 that he wanted to become an apprentice mechanic. Now that does not sound like a monumental decision, but it definitely was in the case of Henry Ford. Unknown, perhaps, even to Henry Ford, his decision was destined to strip “Fate” of its theoretical power and become a perpetual herald to the eminence of “Freewill” – to the fact that an individual, not “Fate,” is responsible for his or her own state of affairs.
Consider carefully the importance that one farm boy’s decision would have on this nation and the world. Because of this decision, Henry Ford would become the founder of Ford Motor Company; and although Eli Whitney was the first to introduce the assembly line method of production, Henry Ford, because of his monumental decision, was to become one of the first to apply the assembly line method of production to the mass production of affordable automobiles and is credited with contributing to the creation of the middle class in American society. Henry Ford’s achievement was labeled “Fordism” because it helped to revolutionize industrial production not only in the United States but also in other countries. Henry Ford did many other things, but this suffices to point out that his decision at age 16 to become an apprentice mechanic was a monumental decision, and it gives validity to “Freewill.”
While most of the world knows of Henry Fords achievements, they do not know of the problem that Henry Ford faced at age 16 when he made his “monumental” decision to become an apprentice mechanic. Here was the problem that confronted Henry’s decision; and regrettably, it is still a problem that challenges many of us today – Had Henry earnestly believed in “Fate,” as the majority does, he would have given up on his goal, resigned himself to the life of a farmer, accepting his “Fate” – a farm boy.
While most of Henry’s family and acquaintances saw Henry as a farmer, Henry was busy seeing himself as what he wanted to become and having the courage to take the necessary action to achieve it. This wasn’t always easy for Henry because his decision was not immediately accepted as popular by his family, especially by his father who, at first, was very obstinate about what he wanted Henry to become – a farmer; However, through the demonstrated determination to achieve what he wanted, young Henry’s father, as did other family members, gradually came to accept and even to appreciate Henry’s decision about what he wanted to become; and they saw living proof through Henry’s own example, that each individual is a “Freewill” agent responsible for his or her own state of affairs – that an individuals state of affairs is determined most largely, not by “Fate,” but by specific actions that an individual chooses through “Freewill” to exercise.
Maybe you are still undecided about what goal you want to achieve, and/or you are still uncertain about which is right, “Fate” or “Freewill”? If so, then you are not alone. People will continue, at times, to have questions about which goals they should pursue and will continue to debate and disagree on the preeminence of “Fate” and “Freewill,” as they always have. It may prove of benefit in helping you arrive at your own decisions about “Fate” and “Freewill,” to weigh the known facts. Namely, that while there is, admittedly, some circumstantial evidence that support a belief in “Fate;” however, there is no actual concrete proof that could justify a dogmatic view in favor of it – the same, however, cannot be said of “”Freewill”. There is such a vast amount of tangible evidence in support of its validity, and the fact that you can change your state of affairs by taking appropriate action; that we cannot ignore the validity of “Freewill;” neither can we ignore its claim to preeminence – consider the example of Henry Ford. Add to this, the fact that there are dozens of others, like Henry Ford, whose names I have not mentioned; whose stories I have not yet told.
Maybe you have an inward desire to be or to achieve some cherished goal, as did young Henry Ford who more than anything else wanted to be a mechanic apprentice. It may be a simple
goal that everyone expects of you, or maybe your goal deviates a little bit, or quite a distance, from what is, or what you perceive is expected of you; and because of this, you are not exactly sure on how to proceed. In either case, do what young Henry did – listen to your inward yearning to be and to achieve what you want in life; not what someone else wants or expects of you – but what you want. And when you are firmly convinced about what goal you want to achieve, go after it like young Henry did; and like Henry Ford, do not alienate yourself from friends and family. Instead, let your determination win their approval and support.
By recognizing and acting on his right to be a “Freewill” agent, young Henry Ford, with his newly acquired skills, was better suited to repair the farm equipment and still, at the same time, disciplined enough to exercise his obligation to help around the family’s farm on his return visits and stays at home. The decision of one 16-year-old farm boy has benefited not only Henry Ford and his immediate family; but it has, and perpetually does, continue to benefit America, the world, and you and me.
Can you imagine the magnitude of the potential loss that we would have endured were it not for the fact that Henry Ford chose to exercise his right as a “Freewill” agent? When you do likewise, what success story will you one day have to share?
Good luck in your journey for success.