,More than likely we have all heard someone use the phrase; "Everything happens for a reason."  Now, depending on one's circumstances at the times of receiving this age-old adage, the reaction will, no doubt, vary from complete agreement to utter disgust.  Over the weekend, the small, close-knit community in which I live experienced  a devastating fire.  This Town Center hosts a series of businesses, ranging from attorneys, real estate offices, postal services, the library, civic buildings, various doctors, and a few tasty eateries.  Naturally, in a resort community, the town would host a few bars for nightlife.  There are four such watering holes in this center, all catering to the full gamut of patrons (from 20-somethings to dedicated octogenarians).  The most frequented of these nightspots was sandwiched between a law office and a party rental service (there was a child care center in the works as well).  This bar went up in flames early Friday morning and took out the entire row of businesses on each side.   This is a devastating event for the people in this community.  Needless to say, several families are now suffering the anxiety and fear of the unknown, given that there places of business have been completely destroyed.  But what makes this event the more tragic, is that early the nest morning, someone decided to hurl a Molotov cocktail at the entrance of one of the other bars!  This really added insult to injury because the entire community is now walking on pins and needles wondering if there is a crazed arsonist with a vendetta against booze-backed businesses lurking about.  And they have every right to feel this way!  Believe  me, I understand the impact that fear of the unknown can have on one's life (its my business to understand), but how does one wrap one's brain around the phrase that I hear being uttered around town; "Everything happens for a reason" ??  That idea can be a really tough sell in situations like this.  (Actually, that idea is a hard sell for a significant amount of folks anyway.)  I would like to think that these tragic events (the child care center -The Drop-Off- being lost really breaks my heart because this was a service that is especially needed in the community) are going to result in a positive outcome for the victims involved.  I pray that that will be the case.  I also pray that the person that tossed the Molotov  cocktail at the second business makes different (better!) decisions in the future. 
I suppose that everything does happens for a reason, and with patience and faith the reasons for tragic events become clear.

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