The luck of the draw in life

L

LoveTulips

Senior Member
Location
British Columbia, Canada
I was reading a book about a fellow from Vancouver who visited Timbuktu in 2011 or so. He spoke of poverty there, children who get river blindness, it is so awful, I can't even imagine a child, never mind adults who live with this disease: " the adult worms produce embryonic larvae (microfilariae) that migrate to the skin, eyes and other organs. When a female blackfly bites an infected person during a blood meal, it also ingests microfilariae which develop further in the blackfly and are then transmitted to the next human host during subsequent bites. "

I complain and/or worry about all sorts of stuff in life, yet what I worry about is nothing compared to what people suffer in the world. Really why was I spared this type of life? How do I know that if there is such a thing as reincarnation that I won't end up suffering after I die? Yet I'm Catholic (don't go to church though) but believe in hopefully in a type of heaven, at least somewhere where all is light and love.
 

There's an inexplicable randomness to it all, isn't there?

Good people pass away at a young age...bad people win the lottery. I figure the good I do today will come back to me tomorrow. I think it's a positive mindset to have. The world would be a better place if we all shared a sentiment like this.
 

LoveTulips said:
I was reading a book about a fellow from Vancouver who visited Timbuktu in 2011 or so. He spoke of poverty there, children who get river blindness, it is so awful, I can't even imagine a child, never mind adults who live with this disease: " the adult worms produce embryonic larvae (microfilariae) that migrate to the skin, eyes and other organs. When a female blackfly bites an infected person during a blood meal, it also ingests microfilariae which develop further in the blackfly and are then transmitted to the next human host during subsequent bites. "

I complain and/or worry about all sorts of stuff in life, yet what I worry about is nothing compared to what people suffer in the world. Really why was I spared this type of life? How do I know that if there is such a thing as reincarnation that I won't end up suffering after I die? Yet I'm Catholic (don't go to church though) but believe in hopefully in a type of heaven, at least somewhere where all is light and love.
Click to expand...
you know when I've read about this type of thing, where people live in places where they suffer or can suffer from horrendous illnesses such as you describe... I thank God I was born in this country....
 
Question to someone over yonder...

This topic reminded me a couple of yrs ago I was reading up on an American actor, can't remember who it was but he died in 80s I think, of a lung or breathing disease he caught from something natural that's in the soil or air or grass (not manmade pollution) somewhere over yonder.

I've tried to find the area and the problem causing this , but can't remember enough to find the answer I'm seeking.

Anyone?
 
Where did we get the idea that we could have been born anywhere in the world. It's an intriguing idea that our birth is like a slot machine in terms of likely outcomes.

I found some letters in the attic one time from a guy who was in WW2 and he and my mother were romantically involved. Well, he died in the war and my mother instead married my father.

Where would I be if the guy survived the war and she had married him?
 
Last edited:
LoveTulips said:
I was reading a book about a fellow from Vancouver who visited Timbuktu in 2011 or so. He spoke of poverty there, children who get river blindness, it is so awful, I can't even imagine a child, never mind adults who live with this disease: " the adult worms produce embryonic larvae (microfilariae) that migrate to the skin, eyes and other organs. When a female blackfly bites an infected person during a blood meal, it also ingests microfilariae which develop further in the blackfly and are then transmitted to the next human host during subsequent bites. "

I complain and/or worry about all sorts of stuff in life, yet what I worry about is nothing compared to what people suffer in the world. Really why was I spared this type of life? How do I know that if there is such a thing as reincarnation that I won't end up suffering after I die? Yet I'm Catholic (don't go to church though) but believe in hopefully in a type of heaven, at least somewhere where all is light and love.
Click to expand...
This is why, LONG ago, I rejected the bull pucky promise so many evangelical pastors preach: “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” THAT is a Joel Olsteen lie right there.

If you are ever in a church where some preacher says that, that is a lie and you need to get up and walk out in protest mid-sermon.

If God had a WONDERFUL plan for 100% of all our lives, no kids would get cancer, right?
No parents who want children would have to ever suffer through a miscarriage or be physically unable to have kids.
EVERYONE would get the job they want with the organization they most want to work for and never have to settle for working for
LifeinHell, Inc. and suck it up for 30 years just to make it to retirement.

If God had a wonderful plan for 100% of us, we’d all get to marry the person of our choosing and NEVER, ever experience unrequited love.
ALL women, 100% of us, would be beautiful and thin so we could attract more potential suitors. That’s the plan I would like for MY life - Pony up, God!

If God had a wonderful plan for 100% of us, the innocent would never go to prison. Never. Wages would be truly equal for all regardless of race, gender or age, and when a woman accuses a man of sexual assault, people would believe her.

The FACT is, God may have a wonderful plan for some of us, but for others of us, the plans are NOT SO GOOD for our lives but we do get to confront him about that when we die. Can even confront God about his rotten plans here in prayer if you want to. That may not change the plan, but the Complaint Department is always open.

But you are right - what about these children all over the world who get these diseases they have no control over, who starve to death, who never get to go to school even if they have great intelligence? WHERE are God’s great plans for THEM?

That is why Joel Olsteen, CBN and the like should stop asking for money. They alone could probably feed whole nations. But no - they want us to send them money and ALSO want US to support the starving, diseased children of the world as they buy another private jet.

Blind guides.
 
Last edited:
VintageBetter said:
This is why, LONG ago, I rejected the bull pucky promise so many evangelical pastors preach: “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” THAT is a Joel Olsteen lie right there.

If you are ever in a church where some preacher says that, that is a lie and you need to get up and walk out in protest mid-sermon.

If God had a WONDERFUL plan for 100% of all our lives, no kids would get cancer, right?
No parents who want children would have to ever suffer through a miscarriage or be physically unable to have kids.
EVERYONE would get the job they want with the organization they most want to work for and never have to settle for working for
LifeinHell, Inc. and suck it up for 30 years just to make it to retirement.

If God had a wonderful plan for 100% of us, we’d all get to marry the person of our choosing and NEVER, ever experience unrequited love.
ALL women, 100% of us, would be beautiful and thin so we could attract more potential suitors. That’s the plan I would like for MY life - Pony up, God!

If God had a wonderful plan for 100% of us, the innocent would never go to prison. Never. Wages would be truly equal for all regardless of race, gender or age, and when a woman accuses a man of sexual assault, people would believe her.

The FACT is, God may have a wonderful plan for some of us, but for others of us, the plans are NOT SO GOOD for our lives but we do get to confront him about that when we die. Can even confront God about his rotten plans here in prayer if you want to. That may not change the plan, but the Complaint Department is always open.

But you are right - what about these children all over the world who get these diseases they have no control over, who starve to death, who never get to go to school even if they have great intelligence? WHERE are God’s great plans for THEM?

That is why Joel Olsteen, CBN and the like should stop asking for money. They alone could probably feed whole nations. But no - they want us to send them money and ALSO want US to support the starving, diseased children of the world as they buy another private jet.

Blind guides.
Click to expand...
Joel Olsteen and a bunch of others like him are liars and money suckers, that's all. Anyways, I actually don't blame God for anything that goes wrong, I blame Satan. I think basically there is good and there is evil in the world which is God and the devil.
 
People can believe what they want to believe. However, science wise, there is no draw coming into the world that each of we humans face. Instead we are not created equal physically or mentally, nor have equal chances to develop equally but rather are products of our parents, their wealth or not, society, culture, era of civilizations, and random natural events of the world. I often use the metaphor, "I am like a tiny twig floating, bobbing along in the vast roiling Mississippi River waters during flood."

How we adapt, cope, learn and make individual decisions eventually can possibly alter our paths for better or worse.
 
VintageBetter said:
This is why, LONG ago, I rejected the bull pucky promise so many evangelical pastors preach: “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” THAT is a Joel Olsteen lie right there.

If you are ever in a church where some preacher says that, that is a lie and you need to get up and walk out in protest mid-sermon.

If God had a WONDERFUL plan for 100% of all our lives, no kids would get cancer, right?
No parents who want children would have to ever suffer through a miscarriage or be physically unable to have kids.
EVERYONE would get the job they want with the organization they most want to work for and never have to settle for working for
LifeinHell, Inc. and suck it up for 30 years just to make it to retirement.

If God had a wonderful plan for 100% of us, we’d all get to marry the person of our choosing and NEVER, ever experience unrequited love.
ALL women, 100% of us, would be beautiful and thin so we could attract more potential suitors. That’s the plan I would like for MY life - Pony up, God!

If God had a wonderful plan for 100% of us, the innocent would never go to prison. Never. Wages would be truly equal for all regardless of race, gender or age, and when a woman accuses a man of sexual assault, people would believe her.

The FACT is, God may have a wonderful plan for some of us, but for others of us, the plans are NOT SO GOOD for our lives but we do get to confront him about that when we die. Can even confront God about his rotten plans here in prayer if you want to. That may not change the plan, but the Complaint Department is always open.

But you are right - what about these children all over the world who get these diseases they have no control over, who starve to death, who never get to go to school even if they have great intelligence? WHERE are God’s great plans for THEM?

That is why Joel Olsteen, CBN and the like should stop asking for money. They alone could probably feed whole nations. But no - they want us to send them money and ALSO want US to support the starving, diseased children of the world as they buy another private jet.

Blind guides.
Click to expand...
The more donations you make the better your life will be. It is called prosperity theology. Guess who prospers?
 
Some believe that the evangelical version of ‘born again’ is all wrong; that it’s a real re-birth and that each life is a learning experience. After we learn how best to do it, we don’t have to keep coming back. It’s called reincarnation.

Believing that puts a whole other slant on this life business.
 
David777 said:
People can believe what they want to believe. However, science wise, there is no draw coming into the world that each of we humans face. Instead we are not created equal physically or mentally, nor have equal chances to develop equally but rather are products of our parents, their wealth or not, society, culture, era of civilizations, and random natural events of the world. I often use the metaphor, "I am like a tiny twig floating, bobbing along in the vast roiling Mississippi River waters during flood."

How we adapt, cope, learn and make individual decisions eventually can possibly alter our paths for better or worse.
Click to expand...
And, perhaps, how many truly evil people will meet along the way.

You know, the legal system, even many churches and psychologists, they do not like that world “evil”. They don’t like to think that some people are just too far gone for remedies from the legal or psychological systems. They see it as a slanderous or unscientific word.

But I think older people know full well there is just some inexplicable evil in the world.
 
Beezer said:
There's an inexplicable randomness to it all, isn't there?

Good people pass away at a young age...bad people win the lottery. I figure the good I do today will come back to me tomorrow. I think it's a positive mindset to have. The world would be a better place if we all shared a sentiment like this.
Click to expand...
One of my favorite expressions to events, good or bad, large or small, unexpected or not, to my kids and friends is that "Life is a crap shoot."
 
Yes, we are so lucky to live in developed countries in the overall scheme of things. However, having it all doesn't lead to happiness. Our young people are now more likely to be depressed or to commit suicide due to social media. Progress can be a good and bad thing. It is all relative.

We visited Cambodia 5 years ago and our tour guide took us to his multi-generational home. It was not a home we could have ever imagined living in in North America, but the family was clearly loving and happy and the children were cheerfully playing outside. There is something to be said about that.

I remember growing up in a modest home, being able to walk to school and play outside until it was dinner time. I feel very fortunate for how I live now, but it is not necessarily "better", just "different".
 
I do not think “God” watches or cares about our every move….but to view the beauty of our world snd think it was entirely random is not of my nature. I have no idea if there is some grand plan…just glad to be alive and fortunate enough to be able to appreciate it. Circumstance seems random…but the design of things seems like a master plan.
 
seadoug said:
Yes, we are so lucky to live in developed countries in the overall scheme of things. However, having it all doesn't lead to happiness. Our young people are now more likely to be depressed or to commit suicide due to social media. Progress can be a good and bad thing. It is all relative.

We visited Cambodia 5 years ago and our tour guide took us to his multi-generational home. It was not a home we could have ever imagined living in in North America, but the family was clearly loving and happy and the children were cheerfully playing outside. There is something to be said about that.

I remember growing up in a modest home, being able to walk to school and play outside until it was dinner time. I feel very fortunate for how I live now, but it is not necessarily "better", just "different".
Click to expand...
I think one of the greatest mistakes our fearless leaders have made is bow far too much to the real estate investment industry and refuse to build or facilitate the building of affordable homes to buy in each and every community.

It is a whole new kind of evil and economic discrimination, but the investor class has told Congress to do this, so, like idiot lemmings, they do it. Them that has the gold makes the rules.

I’ll bet the nation of Cambodia has not had to deal with so much of that societal design bull-crap. But, IDK. I don’t know much about the gov’t. there.

Our Congress listens to only about 10% of us on a regular basis. They are the wealthiest 10%. We have to rise up and tell them, one way or another, to stop that habit. This is one reason why a certain person won a certain election - one friend of mine really wanted to send a message. Was thrilled that this certain person won. Thought it was high time D.C. get a taste of its own medicine.

Do you think they heard? Will they ever blame their own selves? But please - no politics! History only! Personal anecdotes only!
 
I like Joel Osteen. I enjoy listening to him. Many times, not often lately, he might actually say something profound and insightful. I actually went to Madison Square Garden to see him, about 20? years ago with my son. We had a great time. I like Joel. Of my own free will, I bought, years ago, about one or two of his books, which read like he speaks. T-shirt too, which I still wear. No one forced me to do this.

Joel entertains me. I believe he believes what he says is true. I am an atheist. I like Joel Osteen.
 
LoveTulips said:
Joel Olsteen and a bunch of others like him are liars and money suckers, that's all. Anyways, I actually don't blame God for anything that goes wrong, I blame Satan. I think basically there is good and there is evil in the world which is God and the devil.
Click to expand...
Our Pastor told the congregation a few years back that God and Jesus never intended for anyone to get rich off of using their name. I fully believe that. These TV preachers or Evangelists "pay" for their air time. They have sponsors that do pay part of the bill for broadcasting, but still must come up with some of their own money it costs to put on a program by them. So, if they have to dip into their own pockets to pay part of the bill, don't you think they expect to receive a good rate of return on their investment?

Most large companies expect to receive anywhere from 12-15% return on their cash investment. These TV evangelists or preachers expect 50%+, otherwise, they would be investing in the likes of Coca Cola or Apple. The returns the TV preachers receive make the returns that "American Idol" or "Sponge Bob" receives as next to nil.

I respect others to make their own TV choices, but it is likely that when these TV evangelists or preachers speak "from the Bible" they are speaking the truth, but when they use their own interpretations or try to persuade me into believing "what God means by that," they are talking out of both sides of their mouth hoping that the viewers won't notice their B.S. JMO
 
Quackers said:
Question to someone over yonder...

This topic reminded me a couple of yrs ago I was reading up on an American actor, can't remember who it was but he died in 80s I think, of a lung or breathing disease he caught from something natural that's in the soil or air or grass (not manmade pollution) somewhere over yonder.

I've tried to find the area and the problem causing this , but can't remember enough to find the answer I'm seeking.

Anyone?
Click to expand...
Possibly the infection came from mouse or rat droppings in the hot and dry deserts of the southwestern USA states. Once the excrement dries out it becomes wind borne and dusty, and a person may inhale it . Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic information about Hantavirus infection.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome-Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top