“Everything happens for a reason” continued….
More than likely it wasn’t when someone bought a car or house. Also likely wasn’t used for congratulating on an achievement. The reason for good happening comes from the individual so an exterior causation isn’t needed. We take credit for the good.
It’s interesting that when something unfortunate or negative happens that’s when we say “everything happens for a reason”. Which has truth to it, good can be birthed from a tragedy. However, we don’t want to see our part in something that happens which is not in accordance with our expectations. Those instances we are more likely to send that credit outside ourselves. Not to say necessarily that it’s our fault why all bad happens but to parallel that a statement, that uses an absolute, isn’t applied to all scenarios.
How about the word “reason” in this saying? When telling someone there is a reason for why this happened, how is that going to bring about solace in what could be an already confusing time? Who or what could determine such a reason?….
Reason:
: a statement offered in explanation or justification
: a rational ground or motive
: the thing that makes some fact intelligible : CAUSE
: a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense
33 and a Third 