Lerk's view on life shaping

[Lerkfish]

If good is linked to a reward, it is no longer good, but a bargain against future recompense. It then become a mercenary transaction (I will save your village from the thundering hordes in exchange for the next 10 years wheat harvest)

However, the bigger question is: why does good things happen to bad people and bad things to good people? Having had a lot of bad things happen in my life, I feel qualified to answer that:

Good and bad things happen to good and bad people, in (apparently) random frequency and intensity. What, then, is the difference? The difference is in how those events shape the lives of the good or bad people. Grasshopper, you are looking at the events as the important part of the question, it is rather the SHAPING that is the important part. In this life, we are here a short time, so what happens to us is of no consequence. WHAT WE DO WITH THAT SHORT TIME is what makes the difference. That we may take with us to the next station. The good or bad things that befall us will be left behind in this world.

They too, shall pass.

A tragedy may embitter an evil man, and compell him to further atrocities.
A tragedy may cause a good man to stumble, and then hold what is precious as more dear.
A windfall of good fortune may increase an evil man's greed and avarice, inciting his need for even more.
A windfall of good fortune may make a good man humble, realizing it as the windfall it is, giving thanks for it, and reaching out to others less fortunate.

same events, different shapings.

[Lerkfish]

1. an extension: an anti-suicide note

something to send to a loved one who may have attempted suicide (what I sent to a loved one in that situation)

First of all we want you to know that we love you, and that even if life seems dark at times, that too will pass. If you wait, things will always change. Your life is a miracle in the making. Even if it doesn't seem that way all the time, you are a blessing to those who love you. We don't know details of why this happened, and we're not sure that saying something will help, but we do understand despair and we do understand depression (we've had some experience with both of those). But, ultimately, the novel of your life is not even halfway done, keep turning pages and finding out what is in the next chapter!

Life is a mix of experiences, some good, some bad. Sometimes really really good, sometimes really really bad. Sometimes a recipe calls for salt AND sugar, pepper AND sour cream, jalapenos AND lots of water. Even if you loved strawberry ice cream, if that's all you ate for years, well, you get the point. The search for meaning is a good one, but the meaning is NOT found in what happens to us, good or bad. Look around...it rains on good and evil people alike, and the sun shines on good and evil people alike. The meaning is found in the choices we make, in what we create on the canvas of our life. In what we love, in what we despise, in what we learn, in what we regret. We are shaped by our experiences, and we choose the shaping. The grinding stone spins constant, it is our attitude (position) towards it that either sharpens us or blunts our edges beyond usefulness.
We all have our tragedies and our joys, in varying degrees, but to each person the worst tragedy they have is the worst tragedy they have, and the best joy they have is the best joy... Even if it's not as good or bad as the next guy, they aren't the next guy. So, treasure every little blessing, cherish all whom you love (include yourself), do something good or worthwhile with your life, start small. Let bad things become the dust under your feet -- trod over them and give them no heed. In the long run, your life will be happier, independent of surroundings or circumstances.
Because, whether events in our life are predetermined, or random, the fact remains that anything at all can happen to anyone at all. So, since your control is limited in larger things, fix the smaller ones and make them the important things in your life. When riding the roller coaster, instead of white-knuckle clinging to the safety bar, every once in a while, let go and lift your hands in the air and laugh at the sheer fury of your life. It's an adventure, even when it's bad. :)

[Breeze54]

2. You must read a lot of Kahlil Gibran.

I like him too. ;)

"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."
~ Kahlil Gibran ~