Accept life. Don't try to control it.

Life lesson. You have to accept life as it comes. When you don’t, you get corrected. Sometimes harshly.

We all know the saying “When man plans, God laughs.”

I could talk a fair bit about what Christianity says about this and then move on to my own personal experience since that’s my background, but if we actually are in a simulation and the religions of the world all have wisdom to teach us about navigating the world around us, let’s see what it is.

I turned to everyone’s favorite research assistant, ChatGPT, and asked for a summary of the situation.

Me: What do world religions say about the folly of anticipating the future?

ChatGPT: Different world religions offer various perspectives on the anticipation of the future, often emphasizing the importance of focusing on present actions and morality over attempting to predict or overly worry about what is to come. Here’s a summary:

Christianity: Generally teaches the importance of trust in God’s plan and warns against undue worry about the future. Passages like Matthew 6:34 in the New Testament advise against anxious thought for the future, emphasizing trust in God’s provision.

Islam: Encourages believers to trust in Allah’s plan while taking responsibility for their actions. The concept of ‘Tawakkul’ (trust in God) is significant, implying that while one should plan and act, the ultimate outcome of all affairs is in Allah’s hands.

Buddhism: Often emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and regards excessive concern with the future as a source of suffering. This is in line with the principle of ‘Anicca’, the belief in the impermanence of all things, suggesting that the future is too uncertain to cling to.

Hinduism: Teaches that life is a cycle of cause and effect (Karma) and that one should focus on right action in the present rather than attachment to any future outcomes. The Bhagavad Gita discusses the importance of doing one’s duty without attachment to the results.

Judaism: Stresses the importance of making wise decisions and trusting in God’s plan, but also acknowledges human free will and the responsibility to make moral choices. The concept of ‘Bitachon’ reflects trust in God, particularly in uncertain times.

Taoism: Advocates for following the Tao (the Way) and living in harmony with nature and the universe. It promotes the acceptance of the natural flow of life and events, implying a less proactive stance on predicting or controlling the future.

While there are variations and nuances within and between these religious views, a common theme is the emphasis on living responsibly and morally in the present, with a degree of trust or acceptance regarding the unknowns of the future.

Quite the summary.

A common theme definitely emerges. The future is its own thing. You can’t control it.

I’ve always wondered about that admonition. Does that mean you shouldn’t ever worry about the future? You shouldn’t plan? Was it wrong to decide to do things? That kind of thinking always seemed impossible to me; how can you live without any concern for the future? How can anything get done?

I’ve lived as an atheist for a decade or so, and I’ve made plans the entire time. Sometimes really extensive plans. And they’ve all really gone more or less according to plan.

A while back my cat died. I had raised her from a kitten. She’d had an amazing, pampered life, but eventually it came to an end. Her paws had swollen up and I took her to the vet to see what has happening. She’d dealt with kidney issues for a while and I figured fluid retention was connected to that. Unfortunately, it was her heart. Her heart was failing, and fluid had built up around her lungs. They drained the fluid, but it was only a matter of time before it happened again. She needed to be euthanized sometime soon; within a week at most.

I was heartbroken, but resolved to give her the best final few days that I could. She’d get as much food as she wanted. She’d get all the pets. I give her as much attention as she could stand. And then I would have someone come to our apartment and they would help her transition out of this world.

But that isn’t what happened. I woke up the next morning and she was suddenly unable to eat or drink. I think something happened to her, neurologically. It was as though she had forgotten how to do either, and was confused as to why she couldn’t.

I did what I could to help her, but she simply wasn’t able to eat or drink. I helped her into the cat carrier and we headed off to the emergency vet. They did a cursory examination but said there wasn’t anything they could do. She needed to be euthanized immediately. Tears in my eyes, I consented, and they prepped her. We moved everything outside, and I walked around with her and talked to her, soothing her as well as I could. She was relatively calm, but I knew she was confused. I did my best to reassure her that everything was okay. And then it was her time, and she moved on.

I recently adopted a new cat. We came home, and he made a beeline for the laundry room. I’d check in on him periodically. I’d pet him and he would purr up a storm. Every other episode of Bojack I would pop in and see him, pet him, and gauge his relative comfort.

I had resolved that he’d have a perfect, tranquil evening. He’d come out to the rest of the apartment when he was ready, and he’d acclimate at his own pace.

After one such check-in, my apartment complex’s fire alarm went off. Me, my cat, and my laptop bag all had to evacuate. It turned out to be nothing, but my poor cat was pretty terrified. I had to carry him down the stairs into the wintery cold and then into the car. Once we got the all clear I had to repeat the process.

While all this was happening, the absurdity of it all struck me. What are the odds that something like this would happen at the exact worse time? And yet, absurd or not, I was having to deal with it.

The common factor in both of these cases was the insistence that I could have control over the situation.

With my first cat, it was so I didn’t have to accept the fact that she was dying. I could exert some measure of control. With the new cat, it was because I wanted him to have the best chance he could at feeling comfortable quickly.

In both cases, things outside of my control happened. I had to deal with the situation as it happened. My plans went up in smoke.

And you know what? It was all okay.

With my previous cat, it obviously wasn’t the way I would have preferred for her to pass on, but when it happened I did get to spend plenty of time telling her what she meant to me. We had some beautiful final moments together.

Once the new cat and I made it back into the apartment, I sat down with him, and slowly let go so that he could have the freedom to go back into the laundry room. To my immense surprise, he got settled in right there in the crook of my arm. I pet him, he purred up yet another storm, and he fell asleep.

So, are we not supposed to plan things? Of course not.

We’re supposed to avoid trying to control the outcome of events. We’re here in a system we don’t understand, and those who have come before us have been pretty clear; don’t worry about the future. Let each day come as it is. Enjoy it. Hate it. Experience it. It’s what we’re here for.