They say that everything happens for a reason.  What in the world is that supposed to mean anyway?  Everything happens for...a reason? 

Taken literally, I agree.  If my wife left me, for example, the reason might be that I didn't treat her well.  If I had a car accident, the reason might be that I wasn't a careful driver.  But this actually isn't how that phrase is meant.  It is usually said by religious or superstitious people to mean the exact opposite of its literal meaning.  What they mean to communicate is that "the thing" has "just happened" and "the reason" will be revealed at some future time.  It is a nod to the notion of fate; that our life has already been plotted out by some higher power and all these things that are happening to us only serve the purpose of preparing us for this fate that already happened but actually didn't. 

I use this as an example of a kind of thinking that defines all religious or superstitions thought (as opposed to rational thought).  We observe the world either with the belief that God or the supernatural is in control, or with the understanding that the supernatural is an invention of our minds to make us feel better about "the natural" -- what actually is.  We either believe in destiny, or we believe in making our own destiny.  We either believe that the preachers, mystics, numerologists, and astrologist have merely come up with ideas and observations to describe reality, or we convince ourselves that reality somehow shapes itself around the mythical power of their ideas.  We either get it right or we get it backwards.

Is reality what is...with religions and superstitions existing in an attempt to describe it? Or is the idea what is...with reality shaping itself around it?  Take a simple example: do numbers exist as a verbal and written expression of the fact that our minds are clearly capable of perceiving 1, 2, and 3 items in front of us?  Or do items split themselves into numbers because the notion of a number was always some kind of universal truth which reality must conform to? 

Such questions may seem obscure or inconsequential, but it is what divides modern, rational thought from ancient, superstitious thought.  Superstitious thinkers believe that their religious or occultist teaches contain truth because, while the ideas may be ancient, they seem to describe the world of today.  A rational thinker would respond that, of course those ideas describe the world of today...those who came up with those ideas shared the human condition just as we do. 

How easy it would be to confuse our minds by cherry-picking facts to support our beliefs.  So many of us do this with the misguided notion that we will feel better and be more at peace when our beliefs are confirmed.  Keep a close eye on the individual who is in the process of explaining things away with the language of the supernatural.  Watch him get worked-up into a frenzy.  It is, in fact, that feeling of euphoria he seeks, not truth.  Drunk with his own illogic, it feels great to escape the rigors of rational thought for a moment.  I lived that way when I was much younger, and I agree that the confirmation of beliefs brings a temporary thrill, or even peace and contentedness if you are able to hold it in your mind.  But this state will always be temporary because it is wrong.  That which is wrong is that which does not conform to what is.  And when there is a gap between what is and what we believe, then reality seems harsh.

Greater and more permanent peace can be found in embracing the following idea: what is just is.  I have learned that what is is not threatening to me or my beliefs.  How could it be?  It just is.  And if reality seems to threaten me or my beliefs, then it is time to change myself or my thinking in order to conform to reality.  When we achieve a state in which our selves conform to what is, only then have we found the highest levels of peace, wisdom, and contentedness.  Only then can we hold opinions which are true and make decisions which are correct.   

To embrace what is is not to accept things as though they cannot be changed or responded to.  Things are the way they are because of cause and effect.  While superstitious thinkers are twisting their minds into knots trying to explain something with metaphor (usually confusing the two), others are simply noticing some of the patterns of cause and effect which quite clearly lead to a given reality or expected reality.  Some might be asking "Why does God let innocent Iraqi children die?"  I'd point out that the American invaders are there killing innocent people because the US government is owned by and run by corporate power...and that corporate power is interested in stealing Iraqi oil...and if that means having to kill those standing in their way, then so be it.  So, by simply looking at what is, my political position would be quite different from that person who asks unknowable, rhetorical questions and never dares to go beyond the question of why.

What is is that way simply because it is.  Language and ideas exist to describe what is, not the other way around.  What value is contained in an idea or belief system that does not respect what is?