General Discussion

Martin Eden

(13,681 posts)

16. There is always a chain of events which amount to a "cause" of WHY something happened, but...

Fri Dec 27, 2024, 08:29 AM

Dec 27

... not a good REASON in some grand scheme for the better.

In this context, "reason" and "serendipity" are merely our way to make sense of things and find reassurance in a reactive universe over which we have very little control.

What we can control are the decisions we make in charting our course through this perilous world of ours.

When we repeatedly get knocked down, despair can overtake us. Some people find strength in religious faith, and God bless'em if that helps them find peace and reassurance.

But that can require believing that everything happens for a reason. Personally, I reject that as a matter of logic, and want no part of such a cruel God.

We have to find strength not only within ourselves, but also within a community of like-minded people. What little control we do have is greatly enhanced by working together for a better future. Acts of kindness can cause ripples in the fabric of our universe, just as hatred and violence can.

Every day we make decisions, small or large. Free will, to a large extent, determines fate. We have to embrace what is necessary for our own mental and physical health, and work together with others to carry that forward on a larger scale.

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no_hypocrisy yellow dahlia wnylib vanlassie

44 replies

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in an attempt to soothe my soul (when i was a teenager) my mother used to say [View all] orleans Dec 26 OP

Definitely don't delete. Enjoyed reading and get it. Silent Type Dec 26 #1

100% ZDU Dec 29 #32

'It's always darkest before the dawn.' Dad elleng Dec 26 #2

I used to hear the same things from mother SheltieLover Dec 26 #3

question: in the fullness of your adult experience of life, (and lessons) stopdiggin Dec 26 #4

oh yes, of course i understand what she was trying to say orleans Dec 27 #5

and, as I said - you had EVERY right in the world .... stopdiggin Dec 27 #12

Oh my dear orleans . . . CaliforniaPeggy Dec 27 #6

Sometimes for no understandable reason StarryNite Dec 27 #7

yes. nt orleans Dec 27 #8

So many good reminders here. Hope22 Dec 27 #9

thank you for your lovely reply nt orleans Dec 27 #11

Your despair is part of a process nuxvomica Dec 27 #10

Every year in December I re-read a book by Terry Pratchett called Hogfather... Hekate Dec 27 #13

that's beautiful and very profound, hekate. thank you for that. nt orleans Dec 27 #18

You are most welcome. May the new year be gentle on you Hekate Dec 30 #44

just put Hogfather on hold at library. there is a DVD of it as well. PUt it on hold too. Amaryllis Dec 27 #21

I also watch the movie once a year... Hekate Dec 28 #22

Never got into Discworld. Do you like it? Amaryllis Dec 29 #23

Very much, or I wouldn't recommend it. It took me awhile to "get" Pratchett back in the '90s... Hekate Dec 29 #24

Have you read Good Omens, Neil Gaiman? Amaryllis Dec 29 #25

Oh yes. I read it because Terry Pratchett was co-author, and after that I read more of Gaiman Hekate Dec 29 #28

Did you see the TV series they made of it? Cant remember if it was NEtflix.... Amaryllis Dec 30 #34

It was on Amazon Prime, so I joined for a month (free) and binge-watched it twice through Hekate Dec 30 #36

I liked it a lot. there is always the thing where the character look different than how you imagined, but it was very Amaryllis Dec 30 #39

The first was just called Good Omens when it came out in 2018 or 2019. Now it's called ... Hekate Dec 30 #42

Thank you for posting this reminder of how good an observer of humans Sir Terry was. GoneOffShore Dec 30 #37

You are welcome Hekate Dec 30 #43

"everything happens for a reason"--I think that's horseshit. raccoon Dec 27 #14

I dunno. no_hypocrisy Dec 27 #15

There is always a chain of events which amount to a "cause" of WHY something happened, but... Martin Eden Dec 27 #16

I applaud and agree wholeheartedly. vanlassie Dec 29 #27

God's will, everything happens for a reason, karma is a bitch, etc. ThreeNoSeep Dec 27 #17

cause and effect - yes, i get that. orleans Dec 27 #19

Thank you for starting this discussion. yellow dahlia Dec 27 #20

Agree Meowmee Dec 29 #26

"When one door closes another door opens mahina Dec 29 #29

Humans need a reboot. Take care. Joinfortmill Dec 29 #30

There IS a reason for a happening and sometimes, 'what goes around... Septua Dec 29 #31

Few things make me angrier that the sanctimonious empty bullshit of that "everything... 3catwoman3 Dec 30 #33

It's what i needed right now. DiverDave Dec 30 #35

serendipity i guess. please take care. nt orleans Dec 30 #38

You are very fortunate to have had a good Mom like her. Your Mom. Your friend Clouds Passing Dec 30 #40

No reasons, no meaning ismnotwasm Dec 30 #41