Many think that everything we do is predetermined. Churches preach that. Philosophers struggle with the problem of free will versus determinism. Many of us, however, will say that of course we have free will. We are Americans. We can do whatever. Try to stop us.
“Aha!” says modern Electronics. “Try using your phone when the battery is empty. Sure, you are free to load it or not to load it. But where does that get you? Admit it: you are at the mercy of Technology.”
You are writing an important treatise, something truly heretical. Having free will, you are entitled to do this. God will not stop you. But the word processing software will. It suddenly freezes. You cannot write another word. You are at the mercy of the Microsoft Corporation.
You go shopping for some imported black delicatessen pumpernickel. The store does not carry such. No surprise. You are at the mercy of supply and demand.
You order a book for your kindle-1 but it is sent to kindle-2. You are at the mercy of Amazon.
We are free to create or do what we want, but it may go wrong. The more pressing our plan, the more likely it is to go wrong. Maybe that is what Friedrich Nietzsche meant when he said that free will does not exist.
In sum, we may be free to be creative, to plan our luncheon on the grass with or without clothes, whatever. In the end, however, we are at the mercy of Murphy.