Chance vs Purpose

CHANCE -
noun
1.a possibility of something happening.
"there is a chance of winning the raffle"
2.the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious intention or cause.
"he met his brother by chance"

PURPOSE -
noun
1.the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
"the purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee"
2.a person's sense of resolve or determination.
"there was a new sense of purpose in her step as she set off"

In different cultures around the world, there have existed certain expectations of women and ‘how’ they procreate. In the past, and still today amongst mainstream society, having children out of wedlock was/is frowned upon. In some cases, the child/children happened by accident, whilst others happened by choice.

Not only was/is the former circumstance deemed ‘unfortunate’, but also, the child/children were often treated poorly (called a 'bastard', deprived of appropriate care and attention, shunned, relegated to a low status in society, etc) as a result of the mother’s ‘indiscretion’. Such treatment have caused many of them to go through life having low self-worth. And notice that it hardly ever seemed to be about the father's indiscretion, just the mother's, for which both mother and child suffered greatly. Fortunately, based upon changes away from this once-popular practice within the last century or so, that has lessened.

Even so, there are persons who behave as though they are here “by accident”, seemingly lacking purpose, or as though their purpose is one that based upon chance. For example, some live their life in such a chaotic manner, stretching the boundaries of enjoying life to the point of destroying life (i.e. through substance, s*xual and other forms of self-abuse, as well as the abuse of others such as their own loved ones). Is it because they live by chance, without real Purpose?

And what about those of us who behave as though every second of life needs to be used up to accumulate wealth, no matter the lengths we must go to in order to do so (i.e. working 24/7 at multiple 'jobs', stealing, swindling others out of their money, playing the lotto/gambling, investing heavily in the stock market, etc). Is our purpose all about making the most of Chance?

Whether one is born in or out of 'wedlock', we were all created 'on purpose', and for a purpose. Whilst, in some cases our purpose can be decided on by the society and physical environment that we are born into, it is usually we who eventually decide what we want our purpose to be about.

"...The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all..."(Ecclesiastes 9:11). Yes, time and chance are part of our everyday life, but having a positive purpose is what really makes our life worth living. Don't you agree?

Blessings!