There is a Reason for Everything- Even Bad Luck
By: Tonya Foust Mead

In reading today’s headlines, I am reminded of one of my favorite songs of the 70s  ‘Hee Haw Show’ appearing on the television networks.

Gloom, despair and agony on me (woooaah)
Deep dark depression, excessive misery (ooooooohhhhhh)
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all (wooooaaaah)
Gloom, despair and agony on me (ooooooohhhhhhh).

Weak Job Market
Employment fell by 17,000 jobs in January 2008. Actually,  according to government statistics, the economy created 280,000 fewer hobs in 2007 than had been previously estimated.

Minorities Fare even Worse
We all know that everyone in our community suffers a great deal more than the ‘Average Joe’ when the U.S. experiences a weak job market.  Take the following examples complied by David Madland at the Center for American Progress.

•    In January, the unemployment rate for African Americans increased to 9.2 percent from 9.0 percent in December 2007, while the unemployment rate for whites reamined steady at 4.4 percent.
•    From January 2006 to January 2007, the unemployment rate for African Americans increased from 9.2 percent from 8 percent, while for whites the unemployment rate dropped from 4.6 in January 2006 to 4.4.
•    The employment to population ratio—the percentage of the civilian population that is employed— declined by 2.2 percent for African Americans between January 2006 and January 2007, from 59.5 to 58.2 percent. In comparison, the employment to population ratio for whites actually increased to 63.5 percent in January 2008 from 63.4 percent in December 2007.

Ten Meanings of the Events in Our Lives
According to a recent book published by Mira Kirchenbaum, Everything Happens for a Reason,  there are ten reasons for events that occur in our lives.
1.    To help you feel at home in the world
2.    To help you totally accept yourself
3.    To show you that you can let go of fear
4.    To bring you to the place where you can feel forgiveness
5.    To help you uncover your true hidden talent
6.    To help you become stronger
7.    To help you discover the play in life
8.    To show you how to live with a sense of mission
9.    To help you become a truly good person

This message of this book reminded me of Rev. Robert Schuller,  and the paperback he wrote 13 years ago, What Happens to Good People When Bad Things Happen? I carried that book around for the longest time, so long in fact that I had to protect the tattered and worn front and back cover with clear tape. In trying to find the meaning of ‘Bad luck’ and misfortune, particularly that which seemingly occurs to people of color with increasing intensity and frequency—I think that we are a blessed people.

We are blessed to be forced to practice the abstract teachings of Christ in a practical way almost everyday. Do we become closer to God? Do we become closer to our true God-like Self? I hope so. In His infinite wisdom we can come face to face with the consequences of our thoughts, actions and beliefs.  Let’s smile in our gloom, despair and agony. When the dark cloud is lifted and the sun shines once again, then can we truly revel in warm of the sun/Son. Quote attributed to the ‘For Better or for Worst’ cartoonist Lynne Johnston ‘And you don't know what good is if bad hasn't been a part of your life.’

Dr. Mead, PhD, MBA, MA www.ishareknowledge.com is a consultant specializing in human behavior, school and social psychology. She can be contacted at: tonya@ishareknowledge.com