Meant to Be, or Pure Coincidence?

In response to Lauren Lemieux's question, "Are some things really 'meant to be'?"...

     This is a very difficult question to answer, but I think to an extent, some things are truly are. After all, everything follows causally from one thing to the next, and there is some predictability in our actions. What I mean by this is that, if a person drops a pencil, certain actions can be anticipated. So if they drop it, it is very likely they will bend over to pick it up, or they might just leave it where it fell. What will not happen though, is that person will be transported to another time and place, and they will not transform into an animal. These actions could simply not happen because, first, they are not possible, and second, they would not be caused by dropping a pencil. Therefore, actions can determined, to an extent. But, does this mean that things are "meant to be"? That all depends on if a person believes in determinism or not. Determinism is the idea that our lives are one big chain of events and, essentially, we are therefore never "free" because we are always tied down to cause. It also depends on whether or not a person believes in a higher power or god. If they do and believe that this god has some sort of plan for their future, then they will think that things are meant to happen the way that they do. However, if a person is lacking religion, it is unlikely that they will believe such things. So, it is really up to personal interpretation whether or not anything is meant to happen. Personally, I am a religious person and believe our lives are somewhat determined, but that is only my opinion. Certain questions such as whether there actually is a god may never be answered, and therefore, questions such as this may remain unanswered long after we are gone. Do you believe that people have a "destiny"? If you do, do you believe that they have the power to manipulate or change it?