Nothing is random, nor will anything ever be, whether a long string of perfectly blue days that begin and end in golden dimness, the most seemingly chaotic political acts, the rise of a great city, the crystalline structure of a gem that has never seen the light, the distributions of fortune, what time the milkman gets up, the position of the electron, or the occurrence of one astonishingly frigid winter after another.
Even electrons, supposedly the paragons of unpredictability, are tame and obsequious little creatures that rush around at the speed of light, going precisely where they are supposed to go. They make faint whistling sounds that when apprehended in varying combinations are as pleasant as the wind flying through a forest, and they do exactly as they are told. Of this, one can be certain.
And yet there is a wonderful anarchy, in that the milkman chooses when to arise, the rat picks the tunnel into which he will dive when the subway comes rushing down the track from Borough Hall, and the snowflake will fall as it will. How can this be? If nothing is random, and everything is predetermined, how can there be free will? The answer to that is simple.
Nothing is predetermined; it is determined, or was determined, or will be determined. No matter, it all happened at once, in less than an instant, and time was invented because we cannot comprehend in one glance the enormous and detailed canvas that we have been given - so we track it, in linear fashion, piece by piece. Time, however, can be easily overcome; not by chasing light, but by standing back far enough to see it all at once.
The universe is still and complete. Everything that ever was, is; everything that ever will be, is - and so on, in all possible combinations. Though in perceiving it we imagine that it is in motion, and unfinished, it is quite finished and quite astonishingly beautiful.
In the end, or rather, as things really are, any event, no matter how small, is intimately and sensibly tied to all others. All rivers run full to the sea; those who are apart are brought together; the lost ones are redeemed; the dead come back to life; the perfectly blue days that have begun and ended in golden dimness continue, immobile and accessible; and, when all is perceived in such a way as to obviate time, justice becomes apparent not as something that will be, but as something that is.
Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
3 comments to Not By Chance
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Unknown Dear Shadower
After typing a very long response to your comment, I clicked the wrong button and lost everything :-( and have to start from scratch.:-(
Thank you for such a delightful response to this post which I first posted a few years back. I came across it while doing blog housekeeping and decided to repost it as it encapsulates my current melancholy and my grit to snap out of disappointment, disillusionment and need to realign my life, reassess many situations and to grow in wisdom.
At my age, it is not easy to come to grips with the fact that I had been too idealistic and naive in many situations. Nevertheless, it is good that I learn now rather than later. Purging my blog of posts that do not reflect my current beliefs has been an enlightening journey because I know I have come a long way, albeit it has been a very painful journey. That is why at one point my blog was closed for a week. I never thought I would blog again but I am glad I persevered. To have given up and rotted in melancholic despair would have been a tragedy. Nonetheless, I am glad I am going through this metamorphosis ala Kafka. I am not sure when I will blog again but this response to your comment is a good start.
Incidentally, I still have my original red tab Levi's from the 1970's and the last time I checked, it is worth abt 500USD :-) and the best part is that i can still wear it :-). Have not worn it since 1977!
I had an extensive vinyl collection because while other teenagers were splurging on clothes, I spent my pocket money and savings on records and books. Then and even now, I do not care much for fashion LOL! Sadly, I gave them away to a friend who eventually threw them away!!! They would be worth a tidy sum now as they were originals!!! :-(
Amongst the collection :
cover album of The Three Degrees - When Will I see you again? with the pop up and revealing poster of the three stars!
- Carly Simon's albums
- The Beatles Red and Blue albums
- America - Sister Golden hair
- Bread, David Gates
- Original Deep Purple and smoke on the water
- Santana
- The Bee Gees SWALK album and others
- Elton John's earliest albums
-Herman Hermits, Bay City Rollers, Hollies, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
- etc etc
:-( :-( :-(
Thank God for youtube!!
And thank God we found each other's blogs!!!
Take care and pardon my melancholic response. I am quite grieved at the passing of Robin Gibb and Donna Summer.
Keep in touch!!!
Best wishes
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cin2tan NEVER heard of Julian Bream & his classical guitaring music !?
yesterday at the flee...oops flea market IPOH ....& by chance , i bought an original NEW dvd of his 'My Life In Music' = for 3 hours of quiet enjoyment = ONLY rm2.00 !!
Shadower Hi Masterwordsmith
In a bit of a retrospective mood are we?:)
Here is something to cheer you up, and to relive those bell bottom years.
Actually anyone who lists Grover Washington Jr as a favourite artiste is alright in my book. I mean, finally here is SOMEONE with good musical taste.
If you have the time go to the jukebox to the right here:
http://roadlesstraveledindeed.blogspot.com.au/
or directly to the parallel post here:
http://pathtroddennot.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/stuck-in-70s-volume-one.html
These are digitally remastered 70s tracks culled from deep within my musical vault of more than 2000 CDs fastidiously collected over 25 years (I am approaching borderline obsessive compulsive here, I know).
And if after listening your reaction was 'My, I haven't heard THAT in a while!', then my job is done and it has been worthwhile sharing:)
Enjoy, and take care.
Your fellow blogger
Shadower