Thursday, July 3, 2008

To know or Not know...

...That is the question of the day.

A conversation came up today about knowing what lies ahead or what lies in store for each one of us. Obviously we each have free will and can choose our individual paths, BUT if it was possible to know you were headed for trouble would you want to know?

I'm talking more in terms of - if someone said to you..."I can tell you what is going to happen (good or bad and you don't get to choose) and you cannot change it, you cannot stop it, all you can do is know that it is coming and prepare for it ahead of time"... would you really want to know?

A few years back the hub and I lived in Gulfport Ms and had been there for a few years. Hurricanes were not new to us, we had weathered the storm for a few that came near us. Each one someone would say "We'll get ours, we are due" and predictions from weather forcasters said with the increase in activity it was likely. But did we move..no. There was nothing that said "it would happen" but it odds were very likely.

Even as we watched Katrina move closer and closer to land, knowing we were in the path, we did not leave. It was coming and we could not stop it - all we could do was prepare for the damage it would bring. Even at the time, we did not fully comprehend how life would change because of this, but we did what we could to prepare. Looking back, if someone had said "Kel, there is a deadly storm coming that will forever change your life and your family's life," would I have left and headed for safer ground or would I have stayed once again, to weather the storm?

Personally, I believe if it is going to happen then I have no control over that, but I can prepare myself and continue on my journey. Granted, the above is only an example and this situation is hypothetical to say the least, but...if we could know what is up ahead would it really make a difference?

What do you think? Would you want to know?

9 comments:

Jojo said...

ooh I don't know...if I can't change the outcome at all anyway, I don't think I would want to know, especially if it's bad. The anticipation, fear, and anxiety of awaiting my bad fate would make me enjoy what good life I do have.

Semi-Charmed Wife said...

Well, first of all, I don't really believe that the future is set in stone (mainly because I don't WANT to believe that). But if it were, I wouldn't want to know. I'd rather roll with the punches as they come than cringe in the corner waiting to get hit because I know it's coming. If that makes any sense...

Aleta said...

If I could change the outcome, I might want to know, but to be honest... if someone had told me that I would marry someone who was a danger to me and that meant that I changed the path.... and that path being changed meant that I wouldn't have meet Greg, that oh, what a loss! I'd take the same course of action in my life, as long as it would mean I could be with Greg. He's worth all that heartache of the past...

And things like Katrina ~ it makes you stronger. My family has deep roots in the New Orleans and Chalmette and Metairie area - all of which took on massive water. Some relatives only had some damage.. some had water for 3 weeks to the rough tops... yet, we all moved back home. It's home, it's life.... no matter where you go.. Mother Nature has her voice in the matter. We were some of the first families back in town after the hit, because my father owns a business in the area. It was rough, but yes, we'd do it again. Come back and start over. It's the heart of the people, made us stronger, taught us what helping each other is all about. You live.. you learn.. and you keep on living.


Oh and I remember reading in your profile about a long distance relationship. My brother's fiance is coming to the States this Sunday ~ LDR for 1 1/2 years! We're thrilled!

Unknown said...

If I could get my stuff and my family out of harms way, then yes I would want to know. If it meant finding out that one of my kids or myself was going to die no matter what I did, then no.

Gregg said...

I don't think I'd want to know. I also think that if I had made moves to mitigate or avoid "bad" things that had happened in my life, the incredibly great would never have happened.

In fact, so overshadowed are the bad things by the great things that I can't possibly complain.

I certainly would not have met my wife, whom I still adore after 15+ years of marriage and two kids. The worst overall time of my life led to our relationship.

If it was a truly unchangeable event, I agree with JoJo that the anxiety would kill me!

Kellan said...

Happy 4th Of July to you and your family. Have fun and be safe - Kellan

krissy said...

No, I do not want to know. I prefer to just live life to the fullest and love every minute of it. Okay, most of it.

I don't like to know what my future holds. It's in God's hand and he is in my control.

I just pray he listens to my prayers and grants them for me!!!!

Good thinking......you are very philsophical.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I definitely would NOT want to know, unless I could do something to change the outcome. I agree with jojo.....the anxiety would overcome my whole life.

Kim said...

I have to agree with Jojo on this one.. the fear would cripple me and prevent me from living.

JIC- Kimmylyn