Why "bad" things happen from the Baha'i Path
click for more discussions fromThe Baha'i View thru they eyes of Rafael Castillo
Personally I don’t believe in random chance or coincidence. Things happen for a reason. We may view a fortuitous event as good or bad luck, however, I believe whatever happened was meant to be, weather the consequences are “good” or “bad”. How we deal with the event determines if we learned our lesson or not.
I could lose a job and afterwards sit around moaning, “Woe is me”, or I can take that opportunity to make a course correction that may guarantee a better financial future for myself and my family. Losing the job would force me to evaluate my circumstances, and my chances of not only getting hired at another company but, doing whatever I can to make sure I am the kind of employee the company wants to hire.
Another thing I can do is look into other means of earning a living, such as starting my own business, thus insuring I can never be laid-off by another company. These are examples of taking a “bad” situation and making the best of it. This outlook is based not only on my life experience but also on my religious beliefs.
Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet/Founder of the Baha’i Faith wrote The Fire Tablet. It was written in response to a believer and takes the form of a conversation between Bahá’u’lláh and God. In the first half He is asking God why all these trails and tribulations are being heaped upon Him. The second half is God’s response to why He is experiencing these sufferings. The following is an excerpt of the first half and the second half of the Fire Tablet.
The entire tablet can be found at http://www.bahaiprayers.org/fire.htm Reading this tablet will give one an understanding of why “bad” things happen to “good” people. If something bad is happening to you or a loved one do not despair for you are in good company. Not only do many people around the world suffer through many trials and adversities but so have all of God’s Divine Messengers.
Be Blessed!
I could lose a job and afterwards sit around moaning, “Woe is me”, or I can take that opportunity to make a course correction that may guarantee a better financial future for myself and my family. Losing the job would force me to evaluate my circumstances, and my chances of not only getting hired at another company but, doing whatever I can to make sure I am the kind of employee the company wants to hire.
Another thing I can do is look into other means of earning a living, such as starting my own business, thus insuring I can never be laid-off by another company. These are examples of taking a “bad” situation and making the best of it. This outlook is based not only on my life experience but also on my religious beliefs.
Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet/Founder of the Baha’i Faith wrote The Fire Tablet. It was written in response to a believer and takes the form of a conversation between Bahá’u’lláh and God. In the first half He is asking God why all these trails and tribulations are being heaped upon Him. The second half is God’s response to why He is experiencing these sufferings. The following is an excerpt of the first half and the second half of the Fire Tablet.
In the Name of God, the Most Ancient, the Most Great. Indeed the hearts of the sincere are consumed in the fire of separation: Where is the gleaming of the light of Thy Countenance, O Beloved of the worlds? Those who are near unto Thee have been abandoned in the darkness of desolation: Where is the shining of the morn of Thy reunion, O Desire of the worlds?... O Supreme Pen, We have heard Thy most sweet call in the eternal realm: Give Thou ear unto what the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth, O Wronged One of the worlds! Were it not for the cold, how would the heat of Thy words prevail, O Expounder of the worlds? Were it not for calamity, how would the sun of Thy patience shine, O Light of the worlds?
The entire tablet can be found at http://www.bahaiprayers.org/fire.htm Reading this tablet will give one an understanding of why “bad” things happen to “good” people. If something bad is happening to you or a loved one do not despair for you are in good company. Not only do many people around the world suffer through many trials and adversities but so have all of God’s Divine Messengers.
Be Blessed!
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