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To: Alamo-Girl; betty boop

This is not quite what is usually meant by fortelling the future, but without delving into the mechanics of space-time still it is possible to know the future.

The key is "will". I know the future because I am building it. I don't know every eventuality that will interfere with my plans, but I know that I won't let them stop me.

You can predict with some certainty that a house will someday appear at a given location, because you are going to buy the lot, and commission the construction. You don't necessarily know that this or that contractor will have what personnel problems, or material problems, but you know that you won't be deterred by any of that. You have a roll of plans, and you can predict that the result is going to bear some fair resemblance to what you have ordered, because you are going to see to it.

There is another kind of certainty with regard to the future, which is the certainty that comes from an understanding of the underlying principles. Certain kinds of actions will naturally yield certain kinds of consequences, and without knowing specifics you can predict general trend lines. You can afford to grant local autonomy, you can absorb or weather the unexpected, because in the overall scheme of things they won't change the outcome. The uncontrolled movements of individual boats will not affect the flow of a river, for example. The flow of the river affects but need not deter the determined captain.

So, the exertion of will, and the understanding of principles allows the future to be shaped and therefore known. It doesn't disallow the random, or the serendipitous, or the effects of competing wills. To use another metaphor, it is not necessary for a surfer to control the surf directly, to know that he is going ride the surf to shore. By acts of will and understanding, any cross-current can be endured, outlasted, or used to advantage. Else, you paddle out and go again, which according to scripture (and according to experience) God has done time and again.


655 posted on 01/25/2005 3:16:38 PM PST by marron
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To: marron
What a beautiful essay! Thank you so very much!
661 posted on 01/25/2005 7:52:21 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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