Good over Evil

 "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.  This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

In my lifetime I've seen so many tragedies resulting from evil in this world.  From the horrific events we all see in the news; to the very personal ones that have happened around me. 

Back home in a town of 500, a young boy was shot for no reason by a neighbor, while visiting relatives with his brother.  I remember how fearful I was to let my children out of my sight after that.

Years later while my sons were still in school, a favorite teacher was killed by her husband in a horrific tragedy that left their 3 children without both parents in the end.  I shocking event for all the children in the school community.  

A year or two later, a beloved friend and her son tragically killed by a drunk driver.  The entire community mourned including my sons whom loved these 2 people like family.  Heart wrenching and so hard to understand why or how these things can happen.

I remember my friend and her son's funeral service so vividly.  The Pastor of our church talked about how God doesn't let bad things happen.  That bad things happen because Evil/Satan is in the world and because God gave us free will, allowing some to choose evil or make bad decisions; such as driving drunk unfortunately.  

I don't believe that God causes any of these tragedies to happen.  That is free will or the evil in the world.  What I believe is that God is there for us when those things happen; to comfort us and to bring people together.  I also believe that he uses bad, even tragic situations to teach us lessons for the greater good.  Lessons in love, compassion, appreciation, acceptance and even forgiveness.  Which help us to see that there truly is more good in the world than bad.  The evils of the world will not push me out of believing there is good in the world; or away from God.

 "At the end of the day, good will triumph, even though, we at the time, can not see it." ~unknown 

Half Full & Aloha Friday!!

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"You must try to generate happiness within yourself.  If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace." - Ernie Banks

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eye Girl originally started in June 2009.

We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us. So by participating, we are deciding to see the glass as half full, instead of half empty. We are choosing to concentrate on the positives, instead of dwelling on the negatives. Our Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that. They are a list of the things in our life that have brought us happiness over the past week.

We are determined to find the something good in every day.  Are you?

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you have decided to look beyond the imperfections." - Unknown

For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

"Happiness is not found at the end of the road, it is experienced along the way. So take not for granted each moment of your life and you will find a reason to be happy each day." - Unknown

This is what I'm Happy for this week:

• I'm happy for a great conversation with my son in Chicago!
• I'm happy for a great weekend! 
• I'm happy I am Open Minded and Open Hearted!
• I'm happy I'm planning another Chicago Trip!
• I'm happy for a lot of writing time this week!
• I'm happy for time to think about life! 
• I'm happy that I have faith & Believe in many things that I can not see!

"Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure: where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness." - Saint Augustine

It's also "ALOHA FRIDAY" Everyone!!

If you want to join in the fun? Post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the Aloha Friday post at An Island Life. Then you can visit the other participants if you wish...It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends or see what people are thinking about this week and join in a conversation or two if you like.

"Fate - everything happens for a reason.  And when fate happens look for the good in it as it is there!" ~ Catherine Pulsifer

 Question:  What is 'Fate' to you?

Answer: I believe that 'Fate' is an instance when we are destined for an event or experience.  However I also believe that because of the 'free will' of ourselves and others, we have many paths or destinies to choose from after that 'fateful' event.  I believe it's what you do with the event, information or person after 'fate' brings them into your life, is what matters.  That is where our 'free will' comes into play.

Such as when we meet someone whom we were meant to meet for whatever the reason.  To learn, grow, love or whatever the experience was for us.  How much these people influence or change our lives is based on the free will of each... after the meeting. 

I can think of many people in my life time that I was meant to meet, so each time I feel it was 'Fate'.  I think even the inspiring stories and post I read on many of your blogs, I was meant to read because they changed my mood, heart or way of thinking in some way.  Each time I am inspired or moved my someone... I feel it is 'Fate'. 

The word 'Fate' come from the Latin term fatum, "a spoken decree presumed to come from the gods," the existence of fate has been a topic of debate throughout existence.
The concept of fate dictates that one's destiny is inevitable and predetermined. Those who believe in fate generally feel that it cannot be changed and that they must live out the story that has been written for their life as it is laid out. 

Modern thinking however dictates that our futures are a combination of fate and free will. There are certain characteristics inherent in our beings and destinies we are here to fulfill, but we can choose how we act in our circumstances, thereby influencing our paths. 

"I'm talking about fate here - when feelings are so powerful it's as if some force beyond your control is guiding you to someone who can make you happy beyond your wildest dreams." - Submitted by Kay

Love and Happiness to you All!!
Coreen