I was thinking about this more today and I think there are plenty of people who take the good and the bad and credit it to God's will, as well as choices people make. However, I think you hear more of "it's God's will" when something bad happens because people need some sort of reassurance and some way to deal with the event.
No, we don't hear as many "Praise God He's So Good" statements when the stock market goes up or whatever because that doesn't make for good TV.
The thing that freaks me out is when someone says something like "hurricane Katrina was God's way of punishing those evil people in New Orleans" or similar. (Yes, I've heard that said! crazy! I think this event in PA contradicts that theory.)
Personally, I've been trying desperately to find the good in each bad thing, because I really believe that's why the bad stuff happens. Families and communities become closer when these tragedies occur. And really, can you imagine how much more overpopulated our planet would be if nobody died because of Acts of God and War? yipes.
So, with the event here in Colorado, all of these stories about Emily? About how sweet and kind she was and how her last "words" via text message to her parents was "I love you guys" and this big Random Acts of Kindness wave? All of that came out of the death of one girl. What a powerful thought that is.
And with the Amish? How the families of the victims have already forgiven the shooter and are even supportive of his wife and kids. What an example!
And THAT is why bad things happen. It sucks that they happen, but they are gifts in their own way.
I recently had a discussion with my mom about prayer. she actually saw my point of view, which shocked me. I said that I don't do the "please God fix this or make this better" prayer anymore. He's already got a plan and knows far more than I do about ANYTHING. But what I do do is the "please give me strength to deal with this" and "help x's family cope with this horrible tragedy" and things of that ilk. But I think that's another topic.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-10-07 11:18 pm (UTC)I was thinking about this more today and I think there are plenty of people who take the good and the bad and credit it to God's will, as well as choices people make. However, I think you hear more of "it's God's will" when something bad happens because people need some sort of reassurance and some way to deal with the event.
No, we don't hear as many "Praise God He's So Good" statements when the stock market goes up or whatever because that doesn't make for good TV.
The thing that freaks me out is when someone says something like "hurricane Katrina was God's way of punishing those evil people in New Orleans" or similar. (Yes, I've heard that said! crazy! I think this event in PA contradicts that theory.)
Personally, I've been trying desperately to find the good in each bad thing, because I really believe that's why the bad stuff happens. Families and communities become closer when these tragedies occur. And really, can you imagine how much more overpopulated our planet would be if nobody died because of Acts of God and War? yipes.
So, with the event here in Colorado, all of these stories about Emily? About how sweet and kind she was and how her last "words" via text message to her parents was "I love you guys" and this big Random Acts of Kindness wave? All of that came out of the death of one girl. What a powerful thought that is.
And with the Amish? How the families of the victims have already forgiven the shooter and are even supportive of his wife and kids. What an example!
And THAT is why bad things happen. It sucks that they happen, but they are gifts in their own way.
I recently had a discussion with my mom about prayer. she actually saw my point of view, which shocked me. I said that I don't do the "please God fix this or make this better" prayer anymore. He's already got a plan and knows far more than I do about ANYTHING. But what I do do is the "please give me strength to deal with this" and "help x's family cope with this horrible tragedy" and things of that ilk. But I think that's another topic.