If you could see your whole life

While browsing the movies on Netflix on Saturday night, I chose a random one, which was definitely not my type of movie, but it surprised me. It was a science fiction drama about an extraterrestrial invasion and the efforts to communicate with them and understand their intentions. I won’t tell you the movie’s name, otherwise, I will spoil it. Just let me know if you want to know, okay? 

“If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?” That was the question Louis asked her partner, while the end of the movie was revealed and when it caught my eye.

Immediately my mind travelled far away, reminding me of painful moments that were preceded by precious ones. There are life experiences that I would never erase if I could see my whole life from start to finish, even though it didn’t end as I wished, or it revealed the finitude of life. The unconditional love of my first dog, the beauty of nurturing a life, or the courage of take a risk. 

What about the good things? If I were able to know in advance the best achievements, the ones I am already looking for! Honestly, it would not be a good choice either. I would probably suffocate a new relationship, work, hobby, or put too much effort where just time and patience would have lead to the same end. Being too eager to finally get what I know I will have, may push it away from me. I might give something up too early, or even stop looking for, which would erase my journey. 

Even though knowing about the future seems interesting, it would turn our lives into chaos – I believe God has always known that. Part of the beauty of life lies in its unpredictability, which does not excuse us from mourning our dreams or celebrate them.