Losing Control

I just recently heard the story of a comedian that had come to my church. He told us that he was a good kid and did the right things and lived what seemed to be a good life. Then things went wrong by age 21 he had a massive stroke which crippled his legs and for a couple years was unable to walk and felt that his blood vessels were on fire. He was at a loss he had no control over what was happening in his life. I think that sometimes we forget how much control over life we do not have and how fragile life and health are. He however didn't sit in pity for himself he believed that he would get through it and his resolve came from a higher purpose. He survived through his faith. Through this tragedy something bigger happened it caused this man(Joey) to build more character and be thankful for the important things in life.

In life their are unexplainable tragedies that happen and as Aristotle says on page 2 "The tragedies of modern poets fail in the rendering of character; and of poets in general is often true." He also says "For tragedy is an imitation not of men, but of an action and of life, and life consists in action, and its end is a mode of action, not a quality. Now character determines men's qualities, but it is by their actions that they are happy or the reverse." What I got from this is that tragedies are unavoidable but it is how we deal with them that defines character of a man or woman. The actions we take in response to a tragedy can either make or break who we are and who we can be. Do you accept that you have no control over tragedies, take control of your own behaviors and learn? I don't want to seem heartless, there is a time for grieving but there is a time to learn, grow and move on.