God works in mysterious ways.

That's something I get told a lot. That God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes by total strangers who mean well, but more often than not, by people who know me well enough to know that I don't believe in God. Stop telling me that. That honestly is the most irritating thing a person can tell me.

After Kenzie's accident, I heard that all the time. I heard that he works in mysterious ways, and that he has a plan for everyone. Quick question though, if he has a plan for us, where does our free will come in? Do bad things happen because we use our free will and stray from his plan? Is that him punishing us for thinking for ourselves? I also get told some variation of "Well, God gives us free will and Kenzie chose not to wear her seatbelt. . ." So, was the accident just God punishing her for not wearing her seatbelt? Why didn't he punish Erika for driving 90mph down a dirt road? Why didn't SHE end up with a traumatic brain injury? She too used her free will to push on that gas pedal. Ahh, because God works in mysterious ways, right?

The other night, a friend I went to high school with (Ricky) was drinking and driving. He was doing 80-85mph and lost control of his truck and hit a tree. Totaled the truck and has a DUI and an assload of fines, but other than that he's perfectly okay. He's been Facebook-ing. These pictures are of his truck, that I took directly off his Facebook.

Ricky should not be alive, but he got lucky. Sooooo lucky. He's fine, he didn't hurt or kill anyone else. He got lucky. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm stoked that he didn't die or get a traumatic brain injury or kill anyone or any number of awful things that could have happened. But if anyone would deserve the TBI, it would be him and not Kenzie. 

Where's God with his punishment for Ricky's use of free will? Is he just gonna let this one slide? 

His friends are making light of this, saying things like (these are direct quotes from the picture comments) 

"damm what happened hulk smash your truck"

"Fuck bro it happens you'll get thru it.."

"ricky!! nooo that sucks so bad im sorry i hope you're alright. you gotta lay off the 40's for a while"

" holy shit foool...next time only drink a twelve pack haha"

The second and last one irritate me the most.

Fuck it shit happens? WHAT. This isn't something that just happens. If an animal ran in front of his car, then it'll be fuck it shit happens. But this? This is YOU WERE BEING A FUCKING IDIOT AND THAT'S WHY THIS HAPPENED. 

& "next time only drink a 12 pack" ONLY DRINK A TWELVE PACK?! First of all, when you wreck your car because you were drinking and driving and your friends tell you that next time you should ONLY drink a 12 pack, that should really be a sign that you're a fucking alcoholic. And that's TERRIBLE advice, Mr. Carlos Calsada! I went to high school my senior year with Carlos as well. . . and that kid is easily one of the most idiotic people I have ever met in all my 19 years. And that comment truly proves his level of intelligence. 

Now, Ricky's always been great to me, and I'm so thankful that he's alive and well and that no one got hurt. I'm just angry at the world for the unfairness of it all. Why did God let all of this happen to Kenzie and nothing happen to Ricky? 'cause the dude works in mysterious ways, yeah? 

Frankly, I'm real damn tired of this dudes "mysterious ways." They're why I stopped believing he existed. 

I have a friend whose name I won't mention here, but he's someone I love with my whole heart. From the time we were twelve-thirteen until recently, his home life was extremely abusive. In the beginning, I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would make it stop. And he didn't. For years my friend suffered verbal, emotional and physical abuse. Where was God then? Where was God during all the nights that my friend and I cried and begged for it to stop? Why wasn't he listening? Why didn't he do anything? Why did he just let it happen? And people wonder why my friend and I are both so anti-God now a days. 

What about the kids who are born with HIV/AIDS? There's absolutely no "free will" that they could have done and fucked up. Why does God let that happen? If he talks to soooooo many people and appears on toast and grilled cheese sandwiches. . . why can't he tell a scientist how to cure HIV/AIDS? Or cancer? Why does he let all the bad happen? 

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?

Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing?

Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing?

Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing?

Then why call him God?” 

-Epicurus