Seraphim wrote a long time ago in response to my freedom to fail blog post:

But to say "lets not do anything, lets not even participate" is to say im afraid to loose something at risk of gaining nothing.

Is that true?

For many years I have disliked competing against people. My self justification was that it was unfair on others (elitist and condescending all in one!). Even is sport where I did not excel, I preferred to have the handicap of being in a weaker team and even then I would not use some tactics as "they would ruin the game for others".

and then there is life where the occasional choice of actions can cause metaphorical paralysis.

But does that mean we should not make plans? Or should we make them knowing they will not always go our way?

Or is that just trying to force the issue?

And how do you know whether your plans are really for the best?

Or is it like the fable (hadith?) that trusting in Allah (swt) is not like leaving your camel untied, but by tieing it and then trusting in Allah (swt)?