The only reason I'm an actor is that a lady pulled out of a

Hear the humble yet profound words of James Garner, the reluctant hero of stage and screen: “The only reason I’m an actor is that a lady pulled out of a parking space in front of a producer’s office.” At first, these words may sound like jest, a shrug of modesty from a man who never wrapped himself in the cloak of arrogance. Yet beneath their humor lies a revelation about the nature of destiny: that the paths of our lives are often shaped not by grand design, but by the smallest twists of chance.

For what Garner teaches is that a single parking space, a fleeting moment, can alter the course of a life. He did not set out with a master plan to conquer Hollywood. He was not driven by insatiable ambition to be adored on the silver screen. Instead, circumstance opened a door—one car leaving, one space becoming free—and through that narrow gap, fate beckoned. The wisdom of his words lies in this recognition: that greatness often enters not through a planned procession, but through accidents, coincidences, and the turning of unseen wheels.

This truth resounds across history. Think of Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin not by intent but by chance, when a mold drifted into his petri dish and revealed its power to kill bacteria. Or recall how Christopher Columbus, seeking a passage to Asia, stumbled instead upon the Americas. These were not the outcomes their actors sought, yet their lives—and the fate of nations—were forever changed. So too with Garner: a man became an actor because of a parking space, and through that chance, millions would one day know his face, his voice, and the characters he brought to life.

And yet, Garner’s words are not meant to diminish his art, but to remind us of humility. Too often men boast that their success is solely the fruit of their own labor, that they alone bent the world to their will. But Garner, though he worked with diligence, admitted the truth: that fortune plays its part, and that no man rises without the hand of chance. His wisdom humbles us, for it reminds us to be grateful not only for our own effort but also for the unseen accidents that shape our journeys.

But there is another lesson hidden here: while fate may open a door, it is we who must choose to step through it. The lady pulled out, but Garner could have driven past. Instead, he seized the moment. Chance offered the opportunity, but courage and openness gave it power. Thus, destiny is born not only of fortune, but of the willingness to act when fortune knocks.

The teaching for us is clear: guard yourself from despair when life seems uncertain, for the greatest turns often come unplanned. Keep your spirit open to chance, and your eyes watchful for doors that may appear in the most ordinary places. Do not scorn the small moments—a conversation overheard, a meeting by accident, a space opening where none was expected—for these may be the seeds of destiny.

Therefore, O seekers, let Garner’s wisdom take root in your heart: life is shaped not only by intention but also by chance. Walk with humility, knowing fortune has played her part in your victories. Walk also with readiness, so that when chance opens the smallest door, you may stride through it with courage. For who knows but that a single space, a fleeting instant, may change the course of your life forever.