how is the story of life written?

How is the story of life written? Do we each chose each step we take, or does destiny actually lead us to our next encounter? Life is so short, and yet we choose to refuse to acknowledge that fact. About a month ago, I spent my weekend watching a close friend of mine bury her husband. Now she is a 27 year old widow. No one should lose a spouse so young. They had been married for 110 days, until cancer took him away. You see, she married him knowing the dark outcome. She married him knowing she would lose him sooner than she should. She chose love knowing the heartache. She gave of herself, because of love, for someone else. That is how a great story of life is written. A combination of climaxes and endings partnered with joy and heartache. Today is the first day of 2007, and as I think about what is ahead of me I can't help but stop and think about what is behind me and how I have written my story. Here's to the new year... a new chapter... and a chance to change the direction of the story I live in.