The focus of the NY Times article is the power of "magical thinking" and how we apply it to our own life experience. I don't believe applying "magical thinking" in the form of "destiny", "God's Plan", "karma", etc. is an issue when we designate our individual life experiences as such. To me it seems a natural part of coping that has been ingrained in those that have faith in a higher power.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." ~ Jeremiah 1:5 (New International Version)
Isn't it common for us to have the need to "extract a sense of purpose from the random events that make up our lives?"
However, the article uses the example of how it is applied in adoption and yet adoption is not the story of just one person. It is the story of many. This is where I believe that "magical thinking" doesn't belong and can even become a benevolent way of thinking.
For the most part we use these "magical thinking" platitudes with others because we don't know what else to say in to them in their time of trial. And yet there is still danger because if we believe God is a just god then saying something is part of His plan must mean that we deserve what happens to us or we need it to grow into a better person. This isn't offensive when telling an adoptive parent that it was in His plan for them to adopt. The end result was good. They became parents. But what of the first parents who have to suffer unimaginable loss for adoptive parents to have a positive end result? What about parents of a child who dies of cancer? What of the people who die of starvation due to a lack of resources world wide? They deserved pain and suffering? They needed it to learn and grow as an individual? Absolutely not.
I believe in God. But I'm not naive. I think we can all agree, regardless of creed, that life is NOT fair. Bad things happen to good people as good things happen to those who are bad. Is that part of God's plan? No, I don't believe so. We are all subject to the consequences of our own choices, others' choices, culture, society, our health, mother nature, etc. My ability to choose is part of God's plan, but my choices and how they affect others are not.
Dear Readers: Would you mind sharing your thoughts on "Destiny" and belief in "God's Plan" in a world that seems so unfair? How do you rectify the two? What are your thoughts on using the terms "Destiny" and "Part of God's Plan" in adoption?
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"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you
had red hair," said Anne reproachfully. "People who haven't red hair don't know
what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me that God made my hair red on
purpose, and I've never cared about Him since." Anne of Green Gables
