Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

And what on earth can we do about it?

Today I awoke with a whole lot of spring in my step.

Wasting precious little time on the typical morning routines, I grabbed my coffee and Yorkie and headed downstairs to my office to start another busy day. Determined to take on anything that would dare stand in my way!

Sitting down at my oversized desk, I quickly opened up my computer. The usual bombardment of emails blasted across the screen, daring me to dive into them all.

As I started scrolling through the list, one in particular caught my eye. It stood out as a lone beacon from all the rest.

It was a letter telling me that a good friend of mine had just died from cancer. I knew he was sick, but since I live on the other side of the country and am recovering from my own brush with cancer, I have not been able to visit him.

I was quickly overwhelmed by the typical emotions that accompany such devastating news.

Shock, sadness, and grief.

As I started reading his obituary, I was struck by the many wonderful things that were said about him. The comments triggered precious memories of a great guy who was taken far too soon.

I recalled our fun-filled outings together. Watching football games, playing darts and just having a great time. He always had a special twinkle in his eye.

That twinkle has now been extinguished.

The spring in my step that started my morning had now wilted and left me feeling utterly deflated.

However, the sad news did get me thinking about a question that has crossed my mind so many times in life.

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Have you ever wondered about that?

Why are the virtuous struck down by the cruelties of life, while the evil live on for another day to inflict more hardship and pain?

This goes against the whole human sense of what is fair and just. If there really is a higher order, should not the good be rewarded and the evil be punished?

Is that not more in line with the justice we seek?

I bring this notion back to my own life. I like to think I am a pretty decent fellow. Like everyone, I have my shortcomings, but I have always tried to do some “good” in this world.

I worked in education for over 30 years and dedicated my life to helping young people grow and thrive. Now that I am retired, I spend my time writing in the hope that I can reach others and bring some light and hope into their lives. I am not perfect, but I always do my best to be a kind, honest and caring person.

Yet I have been hit with tragedy far more times than I would like to admit. Childhood abuse, neglect, divorce, accidents, and the critical illness of my youngest child. Most recently, I had a bout with cancer thrown in as the cherry on top.

Why is this?

How come so many bad things have happened to someone who tries to make the world a better place and has an inherently good nature?

Again… why do bad things happen to good people?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Many would say it is just about randomness and chance. In other words, we are just unlucky. I have never been a big believer in luck though. We make our own luck in life by the actions we decide to take.

Others would claim it is all part of a grand plan from a higher order. This explanation is much more to my liking, but still not entirely satisfying.

I will choose the third option.

It is all about acceptance and growth.

Let’s be honest, we have all had our fair share of hardship in life. Some more than others, that is true. However, nobody is going to get through the game of life unscathed. That is just the way it is.

That is a hard pill to swallow when we see loved ones sick and dying or who have passed on to the other side.

However, how you choose to handle this is really up to you.

Yes, life can be unfair. A lot of things that happen make no sense at all. Good people are hit with heartbreaking challenges that will drive them to their knees.

What will you do if that happens to you?

Personally, I have chosen to embrace every part of my life story. I truly feel that if I had not experienced so much pain and suffering in my life, then I would not be capable of connecting with others at a higher level.

In many ways, I see it as a gift I have been given.

What is your gift?

The truth is, bad things will always happen. It does not matter if you are a “good” or “evil” person. Life is not really that picky.

The only thing that truly matters in the end is that you accept, grow, and get back up.

What choice do we have?

Find some meaning in the darkness.