No doubt about it - life just isn't fair. People have pondered the question of bad things happening to good people for thousands of years. One simple answer, though, is that bad things happen to everyone at one time or another, whether they are good or bad. There is a certain amount of time and chance involved, so things often don't make sense.

Here is another thing to think about. Just who gets to define the words "bad" and "good"? Sometimes a bad thing turns out to be a great blessing in disguise. For instance, an unplanned pregnancy may seem like a bad thing. In the long run, though, it might force an undisciplined person to settle down because there is a little one dependent on them. It might be the first step in a successful life.

And, what about a "good" person? If "nobody's perfect," which we hear frequently, can we really call anyone good? Well, yes, we probably can. If a person works diligently, pays their bills, and is generally a good citizen and neighbor, it does seem unfair to us when we find out some great tragedy has come to them.

So, is there anything we can do to lessen the chances of being one of those fairly good people who falls on hard times? Ask any positive thinker, and they will tell you, yes. It's not guaranteed, mind you, but if you train yourself to expect good things, you will probably find that the bad things don't happen to you so often.

Our expectations are often rooted in our childhood. Why are some children accident prone while others hardly get a scratch? In many cases, these children are trained to get hurt because it is the only way they can get positive attention from a parent. If you were one of these children, perhaps you need to examine your approach to life and see if you don't still have this kind of unhealthy thinking going on somewhere in your mind.

People who have achieved great goals frequently say that it all begins with believing. Believing in yourself, your abilities, and in a providential God that blesses those who try to do what's right.

There's a concept in the Bible that many people have found to be true and that is that you reap what you sow. If you do good to others, there is an increased likelihood of good things happening to you. In the same way, giving of your money often has a protective effect on your finances. Being friendly will draw friends. Showing love will bring love your way. Being fearful and suspicious might bring scary things into your life. Being stingy can usher in a time of poverty.

Of course, we all know people for whom unthinkable things happened, yet they were fine neighbors to us. Some things we can only wonder about. One thing is for sure - if we try to analyze their situation and look for some flaw in them that brought about the calamity, we will be sowing our own bad seeds of condemnation and negativity.

And if the bad thing happens to you, the best thing you can do is believe that there is a good purpose in it that will eventually show. No, you will never be glad it happened, but it may ultimately yield some beautiful fruit in your life.