Desires and Choice: The Great Test of Human
LifeHuman life unfolds between two powerful forces: desire and choice.Desire is the seed planted within the human heart, while choice is the hand that either nurtures that seed or leaves it unattended. Every person lives between what they long for and what they decide to do about it.We often believe that we are the masters of our desires, but in reality, the origin of our desires is not entirely within our control. The place where we are born, the environment in which we are raised, and the experiences we pass through collectively shape the direction and color of our desires.For instance, a person who has no roof over their head naturally considers shelter their greatest desire. In contrast, someone who possesses every material comfort but lacks inner peace may find all worldly luxuries meaningless. If asked about their deepest wish, such a person would likely say that they seek peace above all else.Desires never truly leave human beings. A child desires toys, a young adult longs for success and achievement, and a middle-aged person searches for peace and stability. Even when a person reaches the final stage of life, desires do not completely disappear. A dying individual may still wish for ease and mercy in the world beyond.How strange it is that human beings and their desires can never truly be separated. Yet, despite this inseparable connection, desire itself is not fully a matter of personal choice.
As the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer famously said:“Man can do what he wants, but he cannot will what he wants.”
This statement reveals a profound truth about human existence: our wishes and desires are not entirely under our control. What we long for is, in many ways, something granted to us rather than consciously created by us.However, while desire may not be fully within our power, action certainly is. Human beings may not always choose what they want, but they can choose how they respond to those wants. This is where responsibility, morality, and character emerge.If we reflect deeply, we begin to realize that nothing truly belongs to us. Everywhere we look, we witness the presence and power of the One in whose control our very existence rests. When nothing is truly our own, humility becomes the path to salvation.In the end, perhaps the greatest wisdom is not in claiming ownership over life, but in accepting our limitations with grace, remaining humble, and recognizing the higher power that governs all things.