In the title of his book, ‘When Bad Things Happen to Good People’, Rabbi Kushner does not pose a question. He does not ask why bad things happen to good people. In fact, he concludes that he doesn’t know why, but when they do, we can learn from them.
Recently my grandson was in an accident; he is doing fine but the event was traumatic for him and our family. The experience affirmed for me that Rabbi Kushner is right, I learned from this bad thing. I learned because I shared the story with friends. I learned by being on the receiving end of compassion, a place I don’t often find myself.
‘Hmm, why, why this?’ I ask. Well, I haven’t had many bad things happen in my life; I haven’t had bad circumstances to learn from. And also, it is not my way to open myself up to others, whether it be to share bad things or good things; I work things out myself. This time, however, I asked for listening ears.
I’ve often said that giving and receiving is part of a seamless cloth. Sharing this story to help me be part of this seamless fabric.
Recently my grandson was in an accident; he is doing fine but the event was traumatic for him and our family. The experience affirmed for me that Rabbi Kushner is right, I learned from this bad thing. I learned because I shared the story with friends. I learned by being on the receiving end of compassion, a place I don’t often find myself.
‘Hmm, why, why this?’ I ask. Well, I haven’t had many bad things happen in my life; I haven’t had bad circumstances to learn from. And also, it is not my way to open myself up to others, whether it be to share bad things or good things; I work things out myself. This time, however, I asked for listening ears.
I’ve often said that giving and receiving is part of a seamless cloth. Sharing this story to help me be part of this seamless fabric.