There’s a Latin saying by the poet Virgil – Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas or Happy is he who knows the cause of things.  I think it’s mostly true, especially if you’re on the winning side or have the ability to either avoid consequences or impact events.  

If not the case, not such a great gift – can be frustrating and downright painful.  Like watching a wreck in slow motion.

I think some people are gifted at seeing more than others.  Soft eyes?  Experience?  The classical seer or prophet?

Who knows, but I don’t think one can see everything.  I think about the scene from the animated movie about the biblical Moses “Prince of Egypt.”

In the scene, really a song, the metaphor of a carpet is used to illustrate how the threads come together to form something valuable, referring to Moses’ life.

I call them threads of grace, preparation, and destiny.  Many times small and even imperceptible but present.  Taking the story of Moses at face value, some of his worst days, also his random days, were the most significant of his life.

The Greeks believed in the Fates – weavers who assigned and controlled each person’s destiny.  It’s not such a bad idea.