"Sometimes the darkness that threatens to consume is the gift that leads to salvation." -V.K. Lindsey

I've often heard people say "Why do bad things happen to good people?" or "What did I do to deserve this?". What they don't realize is that those dark moments in their lives are the greatest gifts of all. They are the motivators, the catalysts if you will, of deep and profound change. When we experience something dark it is because the Universe (or God, whatever you want to call it) is demanding that we grow. Sometimes the changes are subtle, like the gentle ebb and flow of the ocean that transforms the landscapes over time. Sometimes, though, they are powerful, like the forest fire that consumes everything in its path and leaves fertile ash in its wake for new life to grow from. It is up to us how we experience it and what we become because of it. So the next time something bad happens, ask yourself, "What do I have to gain from this?" instead of "Why me?" and you will find that your future is more more magnificent than you realized.