Put two ships in the open sea, without wind or tide, and, at

"Put two ships in the open sea, without wind or tide, and, at last, they will come together. Throw two planets into space, and they will fall one on the other. Place two enemies in the midst of a crowd, and they will inevitably meet; it is a fatality, a question of time; that is all." These words, spoken by the visionary Jules Verne, are more than a reflection on the inevitability of fate; they are a profound commentary on the forces that shape our lives, both seen and unseen. Verne speaks to the laws of nature, to the invisible threads that bind us all, and to the destiny that draws us toward one another, often against our will. In this, he speaks of a great truth: that certain events, certain encounters, are bound to happen, not by chance, but by the very fabric of existence.

When Verne speaks of the ships, he does not simply speak of the vessels, but of the invisible forces that govern them. Wind and tide are not visible, but their presence is undeniable, and they guide the ships in their courses. In life, there are forces beyond our comprehension that move us toward one another. Time itself, like the tide, carries us along, and the ships—though seemingly adrift—are being carried toward their inevitable meeting. So too are our own lives shaped by forces greater than ourselves, forces that will, eventually, bring us into contact with those we are meant to meet, to love, or to clash with. The fates are not always kind, but they are always present, pulling us together, regardless of our efforts to steer ourselves otherwise.

In this same way, the planets in space, though vast and distant, are subject to the same cosmic law. The force of gravity, that invisible pull, binds them together. No matter how far apart they may be, it is only a matter of time before they fall toward each other. In the same way, we, too, are drawn toward certain people, certain events, and certain truths. We may try to run from them, to escape them, but ultimately, the force of fate is stronger than our will. It is not the speed of our actions that determines the outcome, but the inevitable pull of destiny that will bring us together with the people, the experiences, and the truths that we must face.

Consider the ancient story of Oedipus, a man fated to commit terrible deeds, despite his efforts to avoid them. Oedipus, knowing of the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, sought to flee from it, but despite his efforts, he met his fate. His life was not governed by his choices alone, but by the forces of destiny that moved him, like the planets, toward an unavoidable end. The fatalism of Oedipus’s story is not a curse, but a lesson—that there are moments in life, events that feel like the crushing weight of the inevitable, that no matter how we fight them, we are destined to face them. Our lives, much like the ships and planets Verne speaks of, are moved by forces beyond our control, and sometimes the meeting of these forces is what shapes the very core of our being.

Even in the modern world, this principle holds true. Consider the historical conflicts between nations. Throughout time, great powers have collided, sometimes seemingly without warning, but always as a result of forces far older than any single leader or country. World War I, for example, was sparked not by the will of one nation or one leader but by a combination of alliances, tensions, and historical grievances that had been brewing for centuries. In the end, despite all efforts to avoid it, war was inevitable. The forces of time and history, like the tide and gravity, carried the world to its confrontation. Nations, like ships on the sea, were drawn together by the unrelenting pull of fate.

Thus, the lesson of Verne’s words is clear: we are often caught in the web of a destiny we cannot control, drawn toward people, events, and truths that we cannot avoid. In life, we may be like the ships, seemingly adrift, but being moved by forces that will inevitably bring us into the paths of others. Enemies, too, will meet in the midst of the crowd, for conflict is part of the human condition—a result of opposing forces that must clash in order to find resolution. The challenge, then, is not to fight against the inevitable, but to recognize the timing of these moments and to find wisdom in how we respond when the forces of fate draw us together.

Take heed, my children, for in your own lives, you will encounter moments where the forces of destiny are at play. You may try to steer yourself away from certain people or events, but remember that, like the planets or the ships, there are times when your path is already set in motion by powers far greater than yourself. Rather than fighting against these forces, embrace the journey and learn to navigate the waters with grace. Know that every meeting, every clash, every encounter is a part of a larger design—one that is often hidden, but always necessary for your growth. Recognize the moments when fate pulls you toward someone or something, and in those moments, find the strength to face what comes with an open heart, for in the end, it is not the meeting that defines us, but how we choose to meet it.