Forums · Why do bad things happen to good people?
I am having a hard time with this and my spiritual growth. I need your help and your opinions. Before you answer, please think of these things.
1. Baby with luekemia.
2. People who died in the World Trade Center.
3. People born with painful disabilities.
I don't think anyone would "choose" these paths. I also do not believe that it was a matter of Karma. I guess I believe that sh*t happens, and how we deal with the aftermath is what makes us either rise above, or fall below. I still don't understand however why there is sickness, war, hunger, etc.....
1. Baby with luekemia.
2. People who died in the World Trade Center.
3. People born with painful disabilities.
I don't think anyone would "choose" these paths. I also do not believe that it was a matter of Karma. I guess I believe that sh*t happens, and how we deal with the aftermath is what makes us either rise above, or fall below. I still don't understand however why there is sickness, war, hunger, etc.....
I know a lot of people might disagree with this, but I feel that everything in life happens for some purpose. Sometimes it takes something horrific happening to bring about some form of good, often in people who are not directly involved.
For example, the tragedy of September 11, 2001 transformed America into a series of small towns. We were all united in our grief, but people seemed more open, more willing to speak to a st ranger. I saw my country in a different light, it bought out the decency and honor in the American people in general that may have laid dormant for years. It didn't last as long as I would have liked, but I know it is there in the souls of the people of our nation and that gives me a degree of comfort.
As for horrible things that happen to individuals, these things can touch our lives and transform us into better people as well. As you may have read in our Vent section, I was touched by the senseless death of an acquaintance a week or so ago. From that young woman's death, a charitable organization and a ministry to inform churches about international adoption have both sprung up. Her life was not wasted. She did not live as long on this earth as I and others would have liked for her to, but her death has brought about a transformation in other people's lives, and through these organizations, will continue to do so.
Sometimes horrible things happen just to make some of the rest of us sit up and take notice of all of the good things we have been blessed with in our lives. That darling baby suffering with leukemia may cause one person to hold their own child a little closer. It may cause some medical professional to strive in his research for finding a cure for that horrible disease.
The person with a physical or mental challenge may cause someone to reach out and become more active in a career that benefits people who are suffering. Do you remember the immortal words of JFK? "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what can you do for your country." Take it just a step further...Ask what you can do for mankind, ask what you can do to make the world a better place to live in. I saw the movie Bruce Almighty over the weekend, it was cute and entertaining, but the message was a good one: Be your own miracle.
Horrible things do happen to good people, but in my opinion, sometimes those things are a wake up call for the rest of us.
For example, the tragedy of September 11, 2001 transformed America into a series of small towns. We were all united in our grief, but people seemed more open, more willing to speak to a st ranger. I saw my country in a different light, it bought out the decency and honor in the American people in general that may have laid dormant for years. It didn't last as long as I would have liked, but I know it is there in the souls of the people of our nation and that gives me a degree of comfort.
As for horrible things that happen to individuals, these things can touch our lives and transform us into better people as well. As you may have read in our Vent section, I was touched by the senseless death of an acquaintance a week or so ago. From that young woman's death, a charitable organization and a ministry to inform churches about international adoption have both sprung up. Her life was not wasted. She did not live as long on this earth as I and others would have liked for her to, but her death has brought about a transformation in other people's lives, and through these organizations, will continue to do so.
Sometimes horrible things happen just to make some of the rest of us sit up and take notice of all of the good things we have been blessed with in our lives. That darling baby suffering with leukemia may cause one person to hold their own child a little closer. It may cause some medical professional to strive in his research for finding a cure for that horrible disease.
The person with a physical or mental challenge may cause someone to reach out and become more active in a career that benefits people who are suffering. Do you remember the immortal words of JFK? "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what can you do for your country." Take it just a step further...Ask what you can do for mankind, ask what you can do to make the world a better place to live in. I saw the movie Bruce Almighty over the weekend, it was cute and entertaining, but the message was a good one: Be your own miracle.
Horrible things do happen to good people, but in my opinion, sometimes those things are a wake up call for the rest of us.
Sorry Mary G, this is one of those things that someone can't explain and you'll go 'Oh, that's why'.
It's one of those things that most people go through life without finding any kind of answer for. And those of us who do find some sort of answer find that the answer doesn't always seem right all of time. It's such an emotional issue. And anything emotional is fluid and changing as we are.
Some people believe that we do indeed choose a life that these bad things to happen. Some believe it's all chance.
Anyway you choose to believe it's like Carrie said. No matter what bad happens good will always come from it.
This world is a place where things are in conflict. Life struggles to live. People adhere to beliefs that don't serve their brother and they can't see that. This world is imperfect. People have suffered since their were people and perhaps those that come after us will suffer as long as they keep coming.
I've struggled with this question for many years and I'll probably struggle with it for the rest of my life. I just have faith that things happen for a reason. Reasons we may not be able to see.
That baby may have come here to help teach others compassion for others suffering. The world trade center destruction helped wake people up to the fact that destruction and killing never solves any problems. All kinds of suffering in life teach people to grow and makes them stronger.
I know this is not any kind of answer. Like I started this post you can't get a answer in a few paragraphs or even a library of books. You get the answer by seeking as you do. Your search will lead to learning. I won't say just don't worry about it either. While it will do you no good to worry greatly about it but being concerned for your fellow beings can lead you to a more compassionate heart and life and enrich it greatly.
In the end we choose what we want to believe.
[ July 22, 2003, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: nakis ]
It's one of those things that most people go through life without finding any kind of answer for. And those of us who do find some sort of answer find that the answer doesn't always seem right all of time. It's such an emotional issue. And anything emotional is fluid and changing as we are.
Some people believe that we do indeed choose a life that these bad things to happen. Some believe it's all chance.
Anyway you choose to believe it's like Carrie said. No matter what bad happens good will always come from it.
This world is a place where things are in conflict. Life struggles to live. People adhere to beliefs that don't serve their brother and they can't see that. This world is imperfect. People have suffered since their were people and perhaps those that come after us will suffer as long as they keep coming.
I've struggled with this question for many years and I'll probably struggle with it for the rest of my life. I just have faith that things happen for a reason. Reasons we may not be able to see.
That baby may have come here to help teach others compassion for others suffering. The world trade center destruction helped wake people up to the fact that destruction and killing never solves any problems. All kinds of suffering in life teach people to grow and makes them stronger.
I know this is not any kind of answer. Like I started this post you can't get a answer in a few paragraphs or even a library of books. You get the answer by seeking as you do. Your search will lead to learning. I won't say just don't worry about it either. While it will do you no good to worry greatly about it but being concerned for your fellow beings can lead you to a more compassionate heart and life and enrich it greatly.
In the end we choose what we want to believe.
[ July 22, 2003, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: nakis ]
I have to agree with Carrie on that one. I too am a believer in "everything happens for a reason" even though at times, that reason may be hard to see or to understand.
I've also read about this in a book by Sylvia Brown. She goes on to say that we are all here on this earth to learn lessons. To broaden our spirits. She is also a firm believe in reincarnation and that we pick our parents and our lives here on earth according to what we still have yet to learn on the other side. There is no pain and suffering there (in the other side) as we know it here...so we need to experience those things here to learn.
She also states that we can decide wether we want to come back to the earth realm or not. It's quicker to learn our lessons here on earth then in the here after....but it's also more painful for us as well. The spirits that do not want to come back, often become spirit guides.
Another interesting thing that she wrote about, was that before we are born, we have charted out our entire "earth" life. We have picked all the things that we are going to have happen to us. Have you ever met someone and wondered why they seem so familiar? Or why you feel like you've known them before? Or if your like me, and believe that everything happens for a reason, you may meet someone briefly and think "What could the reason be...or why did I happen to meet this person at this time" Well, Sylvia believes that it's because we have made an agreement with this person on the other side to help us in whatever lesson we have to learn. (I'm not sure if I'm explaining that part of it clearly)
Now, I'm not sure that I 100% believe this. But I do have to say that in certain very trying times in my life, since I've read this book, it has absolutely helped to think of things in this way. Especially things that happen that I do not understand....I'll just think "Ok I may have picked this.....so theres a reason or lesson in it somewhere" For me, it makes it easier to just take things day to day and to just trust that things will work out as they should.
I've also read about this in a book by Sylvia Brown. She goes on to say that we are all here on this earth to learn lessons. To broaden our spirits. She is also a firm believe in reincarnation and that we pick our parents and our lives here on earth according to what we still have yet to learn on the other side. There is no pain and suffering there (in the other side) as we know it here...so we need to experience those things here to learn.
She also states that we can decide wether we want to come back to the earth realm or not. It's quicker to learn our lessons here on earth then in the here after....but it's also more painful for us as well. The spirits that do not want to come back, often become spirit guides.
Another interesting thing that she wrote about, was that before we are born, we have charted out our entire "earth" life. We have picked all the things that we are going to have happen to us. Have you ever met someone and wondered why they seem so familiar? Or why you feel like you've known them before? Or if your like me, and believe that everything happens for a reason, you may meet someone briefly and think "What could the reason be...or why did I happen to meet this person at this time" Well, Sylvia believes that it's because we have made an agreement with this person on the other side to help us in whatever lesson we have to learn. (I'm not sure if I'm explaining that part of it clearly)
Now, I'm not sure that I 100% believe this. But I do have to say that in certain very trying times in my life, since I've read this book, it has absolutely helped to think of things in this way. Especially things that happen that I do not understand....I'll just think "Ok I may have picked this.....so theres a reason or lesson in it somewhere" For me, it makes it easier to just take things day to day and to just trust that things will work out as they should.
Mary
I have had the same struggles as you in coming to some kind of resolution with myself as to why bad things happen to good people.. It took a long time but I have finally come to the belief that these things all happen for a reason. As everyone else has stated the reason may not be clear but I think these things happen to teach us lessons and to futher our spiritual growth. Not only as individuals but as a whole.
Trinity mentioned Slyvia Browne and that made me think of the book I read that really helped me come to some understanding of what happens in this lifetime. It's called The Celestine Prophecy and it changed my whole outlook on life. You may read it and think it's garbage but it helped me. It speaks of coincindences and why things happen to people that seem so grossly unfair. A very good friend of mine had mentioned the book to me and I had promised him I"d read it and then not really thought more about it, 2 months later I was at my mother's and found the book downstairs in the basement. I took it as a sign and read it cover to cover is about a day and a half.
I have had the same struggles as you in coming to some kind of resolution with myself as to why bad things happen to good people.. It took a long time but I have finally come to the belief that these things all happen for a reason. As everyone else has stated the reason may not be clear but I think these things happen to teach us lessons and to futher our spiritual growth. Not only as individuals but as a whole.
Trinity mentioned Slyvia Browne and that made me think of the book I read that really helped me come to some understanding of what happens in this lifetime. It's called The Celestine Prophecy and it changed my whole outlook on life. You may read it and think it's garbage but it helped me. It speaks of coincindences and why things happen to people that seem so grossly unfair. A very good friend of mine had mentioned the book to me and I had promised him I"d read it and then not really thought more about it, 2 months later I was at my mother's and found the book downstairs in the basement. I took it as a sign and read it cover to cover is about a day and a half.
Hi and thank-you for your opinions. I guess it is so hard for me to hear heartbreak on a daily basis and not get a little bitter.
I had a problem with my faith, hope, whatever about five years ago. I am just starting to regain a smigen.
The above question is such a roadblock, that I feel myself once again turning away.
I appreciate your replies, and will try the books that you recommended.
Nature is so organized, that it doesn't seem as though there is room for "mistakes" However, chaos is a theory also, but again there is order in chaos.
Maybe there is a reason behind suffering. Even when we slithered out of that primordeal ooze, I'm sure a few of us slipped backwards into the muck. Maybe it was crawling on the backs of the ones that slipped that the successful ones made it safely to shore.
Thank-you again.
I had a problem with my faith, hope, whatever about five years ago. I am just starting to regain a smigen.
The above question is such a roadblock, that I feel myself once again turning away.
I appreciate your replies, and will try the books that you recommended.
Nature is so organized, that it doesn't seem as though there is room for "mistakes" However, chaos is a theory also, but again there is order in chaos.
Maybe there is a reason behind suffering. Even when we slithered out of that primordeal ooze, I'm sure a few of us slipped backwards into the muck. Maybe it was crawling on the backs of the ones that slipped that the successful ones made it safely to shore.
Thank-you again.
Hi everyone;
Years ago, mucked down in the quicksand of life, I asked God ( in the shower mind you) why he had forsaken me, what did I ever do?
And I heard just as sure as the water running;
" I have not forsaken you, I have always been with you helping you through it."
Piglet![[Rainbow Smiley]](graemlins/color.gif)
Years ago, mucked down in the quicksand of life, I asked God ( in the shower mind you) why he had forsaken me, what did I ever do?
And I heard just as sure as the water running;
" I have not forsaken you, I have always been with you helping you through it."
Piglet
It seems as though when bad things happen their so big and sometimes we forget the little good things in our lives, you know what I mean. The wourld trade center was awful and I was so sad but a little good thing happened that day too. My grandson was born. I truly believe life is just that a bunch of little good things and now and then a big bad thing will happen but you see thats when we turn to our good little things and give them a hug. there is a light out there for everyone when its dark sometimes we have to search for the switch to turn the light back on agian. I've been in and out of the dark many times I just try to rember the good little things....... so I hope you find the light switch soon. I'm thinking of you and sending hugs and heart. df
![[Nerdily Unsure]](graemlins/nerd.gif)
Peg, that was pretty smart for 10 years old! =) We can constantly be amazed by the wisdom of children, if only we listen to them carefully and often. I would guess that your grandaughter is an 'old soul', Peg... a spirit who has been here many times before. =)
Hi Maryg and everyone,
I didn't mean to seem off the cuff on your question. I really do beleive that something good comes out of everything. I know sometimes we have a hard time seeing it or even understanding it. But it is my belief.
Sometimes it does get the better of you, I understand that. And then I do my "Scarlett O'Hara thingy. Don't think I am nuts!
Sometimes when I have just gotten to "down" I repeat to myself......."I have thought about that enough for today, I shall think about it some more tomorrow!" I don't find it selfish to sometimes think like this, sometimes it just a means of survival mentally.
And Maryg, that you care so much, I am sure you must be a beacon of light too many people in your life!
Great big HUGS for a very caring lady!
The Pig =)
I didn't mean to seem off the cuff on your question. I really do beleive that something good comes out of everything. I know sometimes we have a hard time seeing it or even understanding it. But it is my belief.
Sometimes it does get the better of you, I understand that. And then I do my "Scarlett O'Hara thingy. Don't think I am nuts!
Sometimes when I have just gotten to "down" I repeat to myself......."I have thought about that enough for today, I shall think about it some more tomorrow!" I don't find it selfish to sometimes think like this, sometimes it just a means of survival mentally.
And Maryg, that you care so much, I am sure you must be a beacon of light too many people in your life!
Great big HUGS for a very caring lady!
The Pig =)
Hi all, I can tell you from exsprience that bad things can make a person stronger and give them a faith they never knew they had. I was born with a very terriable disease called diabetes and i use to qeation why me? 3 years ago my daughter was born with hydroclephis (which is better know as water head baby) doctors had advise me to abort her at 4 months because her brain tissue was at 12 percent of corse i chose to have her and she was born at 3 months premature. While she was going through major surgery my mother dies of complacations due to diabetes 5 states away so i could not be there with her. 3 months later i am told there is a chance i will never see because the prenacey and diabetes destroyed the blood vessles in the back of my eyes!!!
well to make a long story short i never once gave into my faith.I belive i was put to a challenge and i never gave in. It made me relize how much i had to lose and how much i had to gain. I also relized all the little things we take for granted each and everyday. my daughter came through the surgery with flying colors. She is a normal 3 year old now. she is smart and beautiful and very loving. My eyes are not prefect but the doctors say its a miracal how well all the surgerys i have been through have helped my eyesight. I am doing better now than i have ever done and my family is back on track! I could have threw my hands up and lost all this! I just feel that each exspreince we face gives us strengh and makes us the people we are and will be. Life is not easy and only the strong will survive!!
thanks for listen![[Pooper]](graemlins/poop.gif)
![[Thud!]](graemlins/thud.gif)
well to make a long story short i never once gave into my faith.I belive i was put to a challenge and i never gave in. It made me relize how much i had to lose and how much i had to gain. I also relized all the little things we take for granted each and everyday. my daughter came through the surgery with flying colors. She is a normal 3 year old now. she is smart and beautiful and very loving. My eyes are not prefect but the doctors say its a miracal how well all the surgerys i have been through have helped my eyesight. I am doing better now than i have ever done and my family is back on track! I could have threw my hands up and lost all this! I just feel that each exspreince we face gives us strengh and makes us the people we are and will be. Life is not easy and only the strong will survive!!
thanks for listen
((((Sylvia)))) thank you for sharing that story. I was reminded of a young woman I met a few years back who had an adorable little girl with Down's Syndrome and some pretty severe heart problems. With three other healthy,active children, I told her how I was amazed that she could manage so much. She replied to me that until she had been faced with her youngest little girl's health issues, she had never in her life knew how to really pray.
Things like that have a way of putting our lives into perspective. Sorting out what really matters from the rest. It does make us stronger, even sometimes when we feel like we can't go on much longer.
I saw that same woman with her little girl just a few weeks ago, looking healthy and happy, skipping down the aisle of the local grocery store. I think at some point, you have to turn things over to a Higher Being, putting your trust in your faith and knowing that somehow, even when it doesn't feel like it, things do work out for the best.
Things like that have a way of putting our lives into perspective. Sorting out what really matters from the rest. It does make us stronger, even sometimes when we feel like we can't go on much longer.
I saw that same woman with her little girl just a few weeks ago, looking healthy and happy, skipping down the aisle of the local grocery store. I think at some point, you have to turn things over to a Higher Being, putting your trust in your faith and knowing that somehow, even when it doesn't feel like it, things do work out for the best.
I have to agree that alot of great people have had a hard ride in life out in this cruel world..As a teen i USE to think that lifes what you make of it.I couldent of been more wrong. I COULDENT OF BEEN MORE WRONG Sylvies baby girl jen shes much smarter than even alot of adults...And i do mean that...She could say her complete ABCs before she turned 2....ew my sons gonna bug me to use the phone, so ill be back
love my baby boy, anyway, what i was sayen about baby jen Is that doctors and that were talken about the worse things that could happen with her..The point is that just when you think theres no hope,ONLY pain,You look and see a miracle...Thats not luck.THats a blessing. that we can all learn from someone so small,and fragile..SOMETIMES faith and and all that love can make your lifes little misfortunes worth opening your eyes and facing another day and knowing everythings gonna be O.K.
THATS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!
treasures :banana:![[Jumpin!]](graemlins/jump.gif)
:banana:
[ August 08, 2003, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]
THATS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!
treasures :banana:
:banana: [ August 08, 2003, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]
That is so very true Wendy and Carrie. I know when it got really tuff for my family we had to reach deep inside ourselves and find the strength we needed to get through what we needed to get through. It made my family so much closer and gave us something we didnt know we had. An inner strength and love i cant even put in words. I know its hard to believe but out of every bad there is a good and the good can always outbeat the bad if you really work on it. Dont let the bad things in your life overcome you. Welcome the chance to turn things around and be postive you can come out on top!
thanks you guys!!! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
thanks you guys!!!
Hi Everyone,
I guess I have had a string of bad readings that left me to ponder the impossible. Sometimes when I do readings for people, I get mired in a dark black cloud for awhile. I took last week off (completely off), and I feel much better.
I have also found some subliminal tapes that have helped me immensely with my negativity.
Peg, I do the Scarlett O'Hara also. I take one day at a time.
Carrie, Sylvia, your stories are inspirational. It makes me feel like a wimp to be stumped by my lack of faith.
Wendy, as busy as you are, you sound like you're a fun person who has it together. Welcome.
Well, I have an "emergency" reading to go to this morning. Sigh...wish me luck with the new positive me.
I guess I have had a string of bad readings that left me to ponder the impossible. Sometimes when I do readings for people, I get mired in a dark black cloud for awhile. I took last week off (completely off), and I feel much better.
I have also found some subliminal tapes that have helped me immensely with my negativity.
Peg, I do the Scarlett O'Hara also. I take one day at a time.
Carrie, Sylvia, your stories are inspirational. It makes me feel like a wimp to be stumped by my lack of faith.
Wendy, as busy as you are, you sound like you're a fun person who has it together. Welcome.
Well, I have an "emergency" reading to go to this morning. Sigh...wish me luck with the new positive me.
SEE, This is why I love to ""Romp"" on this site.
Everyone here has had there hard times.And when we all talk to one-another, we realize things could always be worse! Maryg, you have most likely always had this positive energy inside you..If you(any-one) can wake up and face another day out in this world the way this world has gotten to be, Has to believe in there heart someone wants you here.someone(or someone's)loves you and needs you. Who dosent feel, at times like throwing there hands up? But then if you pay ""close attention"",You will always see You are loved cared for, and highly looked up to...Thats what makes every secound of your life, worth while". That is what makes life--make all the sense in the world!! Its friday.We made it through another day..And you know what?????? I wouldent of missed it for the world.. :banana: ""BIGGEST HUGS TO ALL''!!!!
[ August 08, 2003, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]
Everyone here has had there hard times.And when we all talk to one-another, we realize things could always be worse! Maryg, you have most likely always had this positive energy inside you..If you(any-one) can wake up and face another day out in this world the way this world has gotten to be, Has to believe in there heart someone wants you here.someone(or someone's)loves you and needs you. Who dosent feel, at times like throwing there hands up? But then if you pay ""close attention"",You will always see You are loved cared for, and highly looked up to...Thats what makes every secound of your life, worth while". That is what makes life--make all the sense in the world!! Its friday.We made it through another day..And you know what?????? I wouldent of missed it for the world.. :banana: ""BIGGEST HUGS TO ALL''!!!!
[ August 08, 2003, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]