Resignation

"Resignation," Oil on illustration board. 24x13.5"

"Res-ig-na-tion: noun

The Acceptance of something undesirable but inevitable."

Fate can be a fickle thing. We like to believe we are meant for something, that we are bound by fate for the trajectory our life takes, or for some greater purpose. That belief tends to be strongest when something positive occurs in our life. We say “it is meant to be”. But when something undesirable occurs in our life, we often find ourselves caught in disbelief. 

We ask ourselves, “How can this be?”, “Why me?” and plead with the skies, “this isn’t supposed to happen!”

Suddenly we don’t want to believe in fate any more.

I don’t particularly believe in a finite, predetermined fate. Rather, I believe in the power of our attitude towards the external forces in our life. Our attitude directly impacts our actions and reactions, and thus, seemingly, our fate. If we accept whatever is thrown at us with grace and dignity, it is neither good nor bad, and it is all “meant to be”.

The Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius says in his Meditations, “Misfortune born nobly is good fortune.”

Detail from "Resignation"

My painting “Resignation” is an allegory for this idea of acceptance. The knight is accepting his fate, albeit his ultimate demise. Even though we are with him at the time of his dying, he is at peace. He in fact embraces the nymph - the personification of his fate - accepting it rather than fighting against it. The two are engaged in a gentle and tender embrace, and his right hand even guides the blade. There is sorrow in their eyes, but he bears his misfortune nobly.

For what can we do to stop the power of fate? We are not in control of the external forces in our life. We are only ever in control of ourselves, but there is perhaps an even greater power in that.

Embrace your fate. All of it.