The art of unpredictability

How to turn life's surprises into strengths

Sep 10, 2024

Dear Friends,

Einstein famously said, "God doesn't play dice with the universe." But is life really as orderly and predictable as this quote suggests?

While we must respect Einstein's intellect, a childhood experience gave me a different outlook on life's unpredictability.

It was an ordinary day when my mother answered the phone. On the other end was Arlene Francis, a famous actress and mother to one of my brother's classmates. Arlene was in tears, recounting a tragedy that had just unfolded.

In their Manhattan apartment, a broken window shade had been held down by a weight. When cleaning staff accidentally released the shade, the weight flew out the window. In a cruel twist of fate, it struck a man walking below - a Midwestern farmer on his first vacation to the big city in 40 years. His life was snuffed out in an instant, his long-anticipated holiday turned to tragedy by pure chance.

This event etched itself into my young mind, challenging the notion of a purely orderly universe. I realized that life is filled with unpredictable moments - some joyous, some devastating - that defy our attempts at control or understanding.

Yet this unpredictability, I've come to believe, is not something to fear or resent. Rather, it's an integral part of the grand tapestry of existence. It reminds us of the preciousness of each moment and the importance of gratitude for the simple gift of being alive.

Consider those countless potential lives - the unformed unions of sperm and egg - that never came to be. They cannot know the wonder of existence, or the richness of experience, even in its most challenging forms. Even a life lived in the harshest conditions holds the spark of consciousness, and the ability to perceive and interact with the world.

This perspective invites us to approach life with a sense of awe and appreciation. It challenges us to make the most of our time, knowing that each day is a unique opportunity that may never come again.

As we navigate the ups and downs of our journeys, let's embrace the randomness. Let's find joy in the unexpected, resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges, and gratitude for the sheer miracle of our existence.