|
|
|
ISSN: 1539-431X June 21, 2005 When Bad Things Happen To Good People
 What
is RSS?
John Cali Shortly after sunrise today, a phone call roused me out of my usual early-morning quiet time. When I answered, I recognized my cousin’s voice. "Johnny," she said, and then she started sobbing. My first thought was someone had died. My cousin and my sister live in the same town in New York State. My sister’s husband had a lung transplant several weeks ago. He was doing as well as the surgeons had expected. But two nights ago he had a severe relapse at home, and couldn’t breathe. The doctors sent an emergency flight to rush him back to their hospital, in a distant city. We still don’t know if he will live or die. My cousin and I talked for a while, then she started crying again. "Why do bad things have to happen to such good people?" she sobbed. Why indeed? Joseph and I have talked about this subject in other newsletters over the years. But this was the first time it was so close to home, so close to me personally. So I also was asking why. Chief Joseph You have a saying going something like this: You cannot know another until you have walked a mile in his moccasins. That is true, but only to a certain extent. You cannot ever fully know another in this lifetime, no matter how much you love her or him, no matter how close you are. Each of you is unique and special. Each of you, at the soul level, came into this physical lifetime for your own reasons, for the reasons your soul has chosen. You do not know the soul reasons of another. You cannot. Therefore, you can never judge or criticize or condemn another, even though you often try to do exactly that. In the broader perspective of those of us in spirit, there is no "bad," no "good." Not in the way you define those words. All there is is life experience. And it’s all perfect. All of it! "Bad" and "good" are judgements you make based on a very limited view of your broader reality. And so when you see a loved one suffering, you wonder why bad things happen to good people. This is where most of you are hugely challenged -- and where one of your greatest opportunities for growth lies. That challenge and that opportunity are to simply allow another his or her path. And to know all is well, whether it "ends" in "life" or "death." For there truly are no endings, only new beginnings. There is no limit to life, for you live eternally. There is no death. How can there be if you live forever? All is well, friends. All the suffering and disaster you perceive in your world, and in the lives of your loved ones, are but passing illusions. And even in the midst of such painful illusions you can find joy. It is always there, waiting for you to discover it. All is well. Life is good. It’s all good. You are all eternal. You never end. When you remember all that, you will find your life, no matter what its challenges, gradually moving back into those long-forgotten places of peace and joy. You will have remembered who you are. And you will know, beyond the shadows of all doubt and fear, all is well -- all is truly well.
This article was originally published here.
=====================================================================
John can be reached by email here
or through their website Copyright © 2005 by John Cali. All rights reserved. *************************************************************************
We want your opinion! Please give us your
feedback on this newsletter or on any other of the earlier newsletters -- your questions, suggestions, comments, criticism,
compliments, etc. Whatever you care to say to us. We'll take it all! We're
always looking for ways to improve and grow, to give you more of what you want
and need. So please help us to help you. Just send us an
email
|
|
