I was watching Oprah’s Master Class last night and this particular episode was about Morgan Freeman and his long journey to success. He spoke a lot of letting Providence be your guide. I know that this is going to sound funny but I had never really heard of that saying and I didn’t quite understand what it meant. I mean I realized what meaning it had by the context he was using it in throughout the telling of his life lessons but I still (being the constant researcher that I am) had to go to Google and read more about this Providence. In short, it refers to God’s extraordinary intervention in the life of people.
When Morgan Freeman continually mentioned Providence intervening at the right moments in his life he spoke of the countless times that he might have been leaning towards making wrong, or worse, desperate decisions to maintain a somewhat decent living while in search for his dream that frankly took way longer to come to fruition than he would’ve liked. He spoke about his attempt in joining the Air Force in which case he quickly realized he wasn’t cut out for that. Providence had intervened.
He talked about his attempts at being a ‘clerk typists’ and working for this company as a temp. When he tried to get the job full time the hiring manager told him that that was not what he was supposed to be doing, and that he was supposed to be an Actor. Providence had intervened again. He spoke of his collecting unemployment and having to search for a typical, clerk typist job which kept him from looking for acting jobs. He said that he had gotten frustrated enough to go to the supervisor of the employment agency and told her that by them making him look for typical work that he just wasn’t meant for, they were keeping him from being who he truly was, an actor. She approved his benefits anyway and gave him six months to get an acting job. Providence intervened again. There were countless other people in his life that ‘intervened’ with him trying to lead a mediocre existence and steered him even further towards what he was born to do.
In the beginning of the program he made a statement about things happening as they should and that you are going to have those certain times in your life where you think that you should have been doing something else, something more, but that’s not necessarily so. He said that you probably should be doing whatever it is you’re doing, just to do your best at it. I thought about that, and the fact that I always feel like I should be in a much different place, a much better place. But in listening to the life lessons of Morgan Freeman, a man who didn’t really come into his career until he was around the age of fifty (although I really hope it doesn’t take me that long), I realized that he’s right.
I mean I would like to not have gone through a lot of the things I’ve gone through in life. I’ve had opportunities pass by me that just seemed like they should have been mine but somehow didn’t pan out. Perhaps that was Providence also intervening in my life. Without all of the things that I have gone through, those things I sit and wonder ‘why me’ about, would I be the person I am right now. Would I be as strong, as determined, as persistent? Would I be this much of a fighter? I don’t know that I would be if I hadn’t had all of these tests and obstacles along my journey.
Perhaps Providence has protected me from something I might not have been ready for. Maybe the opportunities that passed me by weren’t really mine to begin with. Maybe I should just do the best at what I’m doing now and be the best writer that I can be right now, in this moment, and let Providence guide me. Maybe we all should let that spiritual force be the guide that steers us in the direction that we should be going, not necessarily in the direction we think we should be going. Until tomorrow…Take stock in what you are doing now, it most likely is right where you should be.
Jimmetta Carpenter
Writer/Editor
The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)
Writing as “Jaycee Durant”
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Hi Jimmetta, I am so glad that you posted these comments. I was deeply moved by Morgan Freeman’s life lessons. I wondered if it was just me as well because I had never heard the expression “let providence be your guide” I thought let providence be your guide…what does that mean? I like you understood the context in which he was using it found it surprising that I was moved by his story. In my search to understand the statement, I came across your blog and felt some comfort that I wasn’t the only one who wanted to know more.
Thanks for the post.
I appreciate your post. I DVR Morgan Freeman’s episode and paused it when he said “let providence be your guide”. I too, was struck by what he said and wanted to know the meaning. So, I Google and found your piece. I am glad you osted your thoughts and it makes so much sense. Now, I can continue watching it.
Life does take on many twists some good and other not so good. Often times we have to reinvent ourselves or at least that’s what I’ve thought. I can see how “providence is guiding you”….to what and wherever. Trust in the process.
Thanks for the post
I realize the show and your post are old but I just watched the the piece and couldn’t pause the TV to capture the providence piece in my notes and then I deleted it from the dvr. So in between my crazed life at the moment , I tracked it down and viewed it. Thanx for your words and summation. I could not agree more. How clever and strategic to use Providence as a name for God. I am in a huge struggle right now and it’s Providence that is holding me thru me. I have recently made a huge mistake that will impact many. I am remaining strong thru the guilt, embarrassment, shame and disappoint via the mercy and grace of Providence.
I have blowing thru the stop signs that Providence has been showing and my results have shown that. No longer. This was confirmation and I am heeding. Thanx!!!