The Leap of Faith: An Exercise of Free Will

Making a new decision can be a scary experience. Most often you this decision might be the driving force behind any thought in life and determines the outcomes of human emotions. These emotions are love and fear. The interesting thing is that in order to feel well connected with a particular action, these two emotions must coexist as they are commonly intertwining forces that go hand in hand. In some instances, one may fear that when making a decision it becomes a step boldly into the next phase of life regardless whether you will step right off a cliff. On the other hand, making a decision out of love entails that the particular course of action will set yourself up to soar. However, the phrase “leap of faith” perfectly sums up each particular action that is marked out of fear or love, and is often an act that entails believing something outside the boundaries of reason without no doubt and facing the consequences later. This essay, therefore, will seek to narrate how I took a leap of faith when making a decision and if the exercise was an exercise of free will. Furthermore, the outcome of that decision will be provided.

            Kierkegaard is commonly associated with the phrase, “leap of faith.” According to him, “when one reaches a point of absolute despair (as indeed he did) and felt ready to turn to God, one could take a leap of faith” (Janaro and Altshuler 510). He, however, goes ahead to mention that this “leap” has undeniable anxieties and therefore when taking a leap of faith the leap needs to be made regardless of the several counterarguments that come about with taking that leap. One of this counterarguments involves the readily available scientific evidence which seriously criticizes the numerous religious beliefs. This, therefore, means that how we think about something is generally the action that constitutes taking a leap. In his view it can be deduced that he is against the opinions and external shows that are connected with religion and to some extent he is in favor of the internal movement that happens when faith overrules all opinions and scientific evidence and therefore is the source of the thought required to take an action regardless of the outcomes involved.

             As a child, I was always amazed by the way the characters portrayed in cartoons run right off the cliffs and then for a moment they look down in a hapless frozen moment. What results later, is that these characters would plummet into the abyss and this according to me, is the worst case scenario that I fear before taking a leap of faith. Two years ago, I made what people will consider as an illogical decision that brought about a new chapter in my life through life-changing decisions. Having a great job with a flexible working time was something I always looked forward to and prayed for since I was a child. While at the job, I had a circle of close-knit friends and a very understanding boss. I always felt lucky since to most people jobs were more of a turn-off but on my end, I was comfortable with my job and most of it all I was happy that I could now get some extra money for college.

Halfway through my employment to date, I resolved to make a colossal move. I decided to quit my rainbow-walled job with an aim of traveling the world with the little savings I had accumulated at the course of my employment. Throughout my life, I had always dreamt of visiting Africa and different parts of the world and seeing all the beautiful landscape and animals that I felt connected to and that which would answer a century-old question about the existence of God. Regardless of the common debates that have become prevalent concerning our existence and the scientific evidence of God’s existence, visiting Africa and seeing how these animals were surviving each day on their own would affirm my most burning questions. “The experience of God comes through feeling, through intuition, through an overpowering sense of God’s presence and is not there for all to see” (Janaro and Altshuler 511). As we oftentimes do when it comes to such monumental decisions, I doubted myself since I did not know what lies ahead with the choice I had outwardly made. Not only, did I realize that the thoughts and actions I was determined to take were an exercise of free will? According to Janaro and Altshuler, the existential dilemma is knowing that one is free to make a choice, but who knows whether it will turn out to be the right or even the best choice? (511). I understood that the decision I made was based on the opinions, tastes, and attitudes I had developed and therefore was an at of free will.

In conclusion, slowly but surely my circle of international friends grew as I discovered colorful cuisines, new cultures and different ways of life. I found more love and laughter than I had ever imagined existed. Despite the initial inward torment I had gone through to reach this place, I understood that lie is so precious and too short to distract me from what brings me joy and happiness. I would, therefore, advise people to take that leap of faith they have been anxiously waiting to do all their life.

Works Cited

Janaro, Richard Paul, and Thelma C Altshuler. The Art of Being Human: The Humanities as a Technique for Living. New York: Harper & Row, 2012.