I hear people say the same sort of thing. If I ask, I usually get the answer that we can't understand. I don't think that the world works like this. If it did, what would the use be of tying?

marilyn

I've often wondered that very thing, Peter. I take the view that stuff just happens, not necessarily for any reason whatsoever. But then, I don't subscribe to any particular religious belief system, nor do I take much stock in Fate, Destiny, Karma or whatever ou choose to call a system that takes away my free will and submits me to an outside influence over which I have no control. I prefer to think that my screwups are mine alone, and my successes the same. And bad stuff sometimes happens and you just have to do what you can to overcome it and move on.

I'm pretty much in your camp when it comes to this issue. I believe we all make our own destiny and that what is considered fate or destiny is actually more about how we all recognize and respond to "opportunities" and events.

I will say that usually when something dramatic and sudden happens it usually takes us out of our routine and makes us look at our lives/options differently for at least a short time. This new outlook could quite possibly reveal new opportunities/options which we overlooked during the routine of our normal lives, thus being described as "happening for a reason", fate, or destiny.

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Hi Peter,
To say that there was a reason for some unfortunate occurrence is to convey good intent and hope. To believe this may be just the placebo needed for a new beginning.It also may be literally true. The concept of Karma may be illogical to someone. Put simply though, your life will be better if you think, and do good things on behalf of others. Pray for your enemy and you will be the greatest benefactor.To think that there is a reason for tragedy is alright. It attaches hope and purpose to recovery. The side effects are minimal compared to the depression that results from the mental exercise of figuring out that there is no God, Karma etc.
Do I think that every event is caused by some conscious design? No. Shit happens. Can I make the world better by positive thoughts? You Becha.

Hi Peter,

Hummmm, very interesting...as for myself it has nothing to do about negative thinking, or beliefs for that matter. I feel that everything happens for a reason because I feel we are all destined for greatness. I feel that there is enough room at the top for everyone. Even though somethings have been done a million times it needs to be done once more for the rest of the world to see one more time, and from a different perspective.

Going back to the universe guiding us, I feel that the universe puts challenges before us, and it is about how we deal with those challenges rather than how it hinders us. Those challenges introduce us to paths that we probably would've never gone down on our own.

I think we have a great deal of control of our destiny's, and that artists seem to tap into this quite well. I also feel that when the expression is used " Everything happens for a reason," it is more about looking at the brighter side than not.

Rick may be faced with a very serious problem, and lots of pain, but I also think that his mind has a HUGE impact on how he choses to get though this time. He could wallow in self pity, or he could design some great master pieces that would take him so far ahead than he had ever dreamed of. It's for him to decide, not for us to judge.

Free will comes from the heart, it is not something outside of self. What you think about, you bring about.

Peace and tranquility to you Rick.

Jamie Santellano

I think the reason we say stuff like that is firstly, as others have stated, that putting a positive spin on unfortunate events is better than just getting depressed about how unfair the world can be.
Secondly - when you look back at the most disastrous moments in your life after a little time has passed, you almost always find that the consequences were not nearly as bad as you had feared, and very often realise that there were, indeed positive consequences that no one could have foreseen in the immediate aftermath.
Will Jones

Peter great topic. I cannot speak for anyone else, but in my 47+ years I have learned that hard times give you a new perspective on life. If the particular incident had not occured, I would not have taken the time to start learning in earnest 2d/3d cad drawing.

Regarding the fall from the truck, My employer went with trucks instead of vans for most of the fleet. Vans have easier access to whats inside, but less overall capacity for storage. The track gave us more storage with single point access. They went with a work shell with swing doors which removed the tail gate. That leaves a 6 inch or so platform (the bumper) to work from if the back is full.

Given my experiences over the years, I have pessi-optumus attitude toward life. I see the glass as half empty and go looking for a way to fill it up.

I'll stop now. pain killers and keyboard are a dangerous combination :)

Rick Sidebottom
Aspiring Metal Artist

Hi all, this a very touchy and interesting topic,which not only relates to what occured to Rick,but to everything. Personally,I don`t think anybody meant by the term addressed, other than a point from which learning and betterment would undoubtly result.As a matter of fact,I don`t see fatalistic attitude Peter, but rather a positive understanding of LAWS as you say. Nobody can deny the existence of physical laws and their effects whether we like èm or not.There`s a LAW over all those other laws: THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT,widely admited by scientists and philosophers regardles of religious believe.This relates to "causality",rather than alleatory events. Relatively speaking, from:e=mxv2,we could say mass and energy,are the same,vibrating at different wave lenghts, and the law of natural retribution is IT!, and never fails.You do wrong...you pay.You do right..you gain.Hey,what about the all-american saying:"no pain no gain"? It`s through hard physical and expiritual work that we gain, thus alliviating the Charma load we all must carry.Some end up with heavier loads...Is freedom of will hindered by a trend,called Charma or destiny? Nobody,wishes terrible things to happen to him or herself,but they do happened!,and to say it`s a matter of luck,or the result of an alleatory event sounds just like that:left to luck.In any case,if we assume every event in our lives is just a link of our life chain,then we could easily understand the reason of being for every link.Some links will be sour and some may be sweet.Since all tends to equilibrium (retribution),is only logical to think that for every sour link to put it simple, there`s got to be a sweet one.Once we balance out our "links" we would probably be at an energy level, no more mind within matter to suffer and eternal happiness may rise.What a long way for some of us.it`s OK, will see you next time (life)... this is even more subtle than the air we breathe.JUst think about this: if we are made of a body and a soul(hope you believe we`re something more than just matter),why do a soul has to be born into an specific body, resembling more or less your parents for better or worse, and be born within specific cirscunstances that will mark and guide your life? Why a soul has to be born into an ill-fated situation and in a way be condemned, and some other soul may be born, say, in more ideal circunstances? It gets complicated huh. It is just that my friend CHARMA. Sure it`s not an easy concept to grasp and feel,for we carry a heavy load of ignorance,enhance by our extremely material outlook of life.Nothing personal regarding the term ignorance, because it`s my believe we all are ignorant in some degree and in regard to many things.The key to all this disturbances which we get used to them for the most part, is LOVE.That`s the way out to lighter chains... Wish you all well. nelson.