Cito fit, quod di volunt. (alt. ceterum quemadmodum di volunt)
(Petronius, Satyricon 76)

Quickly it becomes what the gods wish. (For the rest, it is just as the gods
wish).

(pron = KEE-toh fit kwohd dee WOH-loont)

Comment: This portion of a line comes from the longest story in Petronius’
Satyricon, known as Trimalchio’s dinner. Trimalchio, the rich former slave who
lavishes wild parties on his friends on a regular basis, is in the midst of a
long speech about how he became the chief slave in the household and came into
his fortune. He also includes in this lengthy speech that he is not one to
brag!

Trimalchio’s atrium is painted with his life story which indicates that he rose
from the ranks of mere slave to wealthy businessman with the help of the gods.
It would seem to be the American dream: man works hard, gods bless, financial
success results.

In fact, the Satyricon is one story after another that contrasts over and over
again unexpected events and those who try to take control of them.
Trimalchio’s dinner is one scene after another of unexpected events that
Trimalchio himself has staged, and while he likes to paint that whatever the
gods wants happens, in fact, he has created his own little world where he is in
charge of the chaos. The overwhelming sense of reading the Satyricon from
beginning to end is just the opposite: the world is a chaotic place, and one
does not know what to expect next.

I cannot be that cynical, but I have come to see that life is full of unexpected
events. Rather than leave me either in despair or clutching at a divine reason
for everything, what works in my life is to stop in the midst of the event and
acknowledge: this is not what I planned, but this is what is unfolding. The
path of my life is turning. I choose to walk in it, this way, right now. And
what was at first unexpected chaos, becomes over time unexpected something
else. Perhaps wisdom. Perhaps joy. Perhaps a hard lesson. I end up better
for having paid attention to it when it arrived.