Marilyn Monroe, an American actress and model once remarked: “This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half that makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
A screenplay might be said in some respects to be the complex structure of life. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The "screenplay of life" (or life script) is said to be an unconscious, narrative plan often formed in early childhood - usually before age seven - that dictates a person's behavior, relationships, and life path based on internalized parental messages and experiences. The script itself often drives recurring, sometimes self-limiting patterns that can be rewritten to create a more empowering future. Whether God is considered to write a "screenplay" for every individual depends on personal theological perspectives, as there is no single consensus. Different traditions interpret the relationship between divine planning and human choice in various ways:
Life can be formed of several divergent acts or chapters. Each is predefined by either God, or on a personal level. The concepts of divine sovereignty and providence often allow for human free will within a divine postulation. The Bible presents the concept of life as a pre-written story, or "screenplay," authored by God, where individuals perform roles that were ordained before they were born. This narrative perspective emphasizes that God is the divine author, director, and producer of each person's life, incorporating both highs and lows into a greater, purposeful, and redemptive plan.
Psalm 139 is a deeply personal, 24-verse song of David exploring God’s omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (everywhere), and omnipotence (all-powerful). It is a poetic meditation on God’s sovereign role as Creator and His intimate knowledge of every individual from the moment of conception. It reminds us:of the foundational text for this concept, where David describes God weaving him together in the womb. Verses 1-16 remind us: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
In the screenplay of life, God is often viewed as the author, director, and producer who writes, edits, and guides the unfolding story to ensure it reaches a purposeful, often redemptive, conclusion. Rather than random events, the "script" of life is seen as a premeditated plan designed to develop character and guide individuals toward their ultimate destiny. The metaphor is frequently used in psychology and philosophy to describe the narrative, patterns, and, in some cases, the pre-written fortunes that guide human existence. It suggests that while everyone remain the principal actor, some may also be the writers, directors, or, conversely, merely follow a script written in early childhood.
These scripts may contain deep-seated beliefs or perspectives. Others may solely consider the negative aspects of life: (e.g., "I’m not good enough," "People always leave me.") These are intended as a survival strategy designed to help a person navigate their environment and secure love or safety. As adults, some may play out these old scripts, even if they are self-limiting or destructive, because they feel familiar and safe. Psychotherapy and self-awareness allow individuals to identify these scripts, challenge them, and "re-decide" their life path, changing life from a losing script to an award-winning and memorable one.
In many theological and spiritual perspectives, God is viewed as the ultimate source of meaning and inspiration in life, transforming mundane or difficult experiences into a purposeful journey. Rather than promising an easy life, this perspective suggests that God provides "abundant life" through inner transformation, grace to endure hardships, and a sense of destiny. An inspirational life is often found through guidance and seeking. It is defined by creating one's own journey through courage, purpose, and kindness, rather than following established norms, focusing on growth, and making a positive impact on the world.
To live fully, one needs to embrace life. Embracing life suggests actively accepting a present reality, living authentically according to one's own values, and finding joy in everyday moments rather than waiting for perfection. It requires letting go of the need for total control, practicing self-compassion, and viewing both challenges and joys as essential parts of a personal journey. Kevyn Aucoin, an American artist once remarked: “Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.”
Proverbs 19:20-23 emphasizes that true wisdom comes from accepting correction, as human plans are ultimately subservient to God's sovereign purpose. It teaches that a life of kindness, combined with the fear of the Lord, leads to contentment, stability, and protection. It reminds us: “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
Amen.
