|
So last night I reconciled with an old friend whom I hadn't spoken to in 6 years. It turns out that the issue I'd been so angry with him about, had a very positive outcome, whereas my desired outcome at the time wouldn't have been nearly so beneficial. I've known this for a while, but yesterday finally worked up the nerve to tell him. I still wish he'd been more straightforward with me at the time, but so it goes. And it makes me wonder....
I've generally been of the mindset that there's no "reason" for things to happen as they do. Things just happen, good or bad. When someone asks "Why?" or "Why me?" in the face of a tragedy, I could only answer, "There is no 'why.' It's not a punishment, and it's not a 'grand plan' by some mythical deity. It just IS." I still don't believe in the mythical deity, but I do believe there's a manner of consciousness and pervading intelligence throughout the Universe, and I'm starting to see how "negative" events can sometimes have positive outcomes - maybe not positive in terms of "happy," but in terms of setting something into motion that was necessary in the long term. Now, you say that to someone who's just experienced a personal tragedy, and they'll be furious with you. I've had my share of personal tragedies, and I would have been furious too if someone had said it to me at the time. Now, looking back - I'm not so sure. Things did fall into place in ways that wouldn't have happened, but for those terrible events. There's a kind of peace in that concept. Maybe I can remember to remind myself, in the midst of chaos and unpleasantry, that maybe this is happening exactly as it should - and since I don't know the long-term outcome yet, I can't judge it as completely negative.
|