When the bad guys win

[vluvski]

So I’m going through a rough patch of learning some hard life lessons.

I was injured on the job due to my former company’s negligent maintenance, but because it is a soft tissue injury, I cannot get a reputable lawyer to take the case. The symptoms, which my doctor agrees are a result of my severe electrical shock, would be explained away by my asthma and a generally asymptomatic heart condition. I tried to work through OSHA and got no satisfaction because I quit before they received my written complaint, even though their staff member advised me otherwise when I called before putting in my resignation. I tried my state representative and the only one who seemed genuinely interested really did not understand my problem.

We also got swindled by a dishonest contractor and are left with thousands of dollars of additional work because he did just enough to appear finished on paper.

I don’t have that difficult of a time accepting that bad things happen to good people, but it infuriates me when good things happen to bad people at the expense of others. Where do I find peace in all this?

 

[Newbie2]

God has it rain and shine on good people and the bad. While it’s not exactly good to revel in bad people’s eventual, and more likely eternal come-uppance, there will be punishment for bad behavior.

I feel the same way sometimes, and get some satisfaction in thinking that they will be eventually punished; if not in this life, then in the next.

Then I think about how Christ would want me to think about such people. The ones who sin the most are in the the most need of healing and forgiveness. I’m trying to turn that anger in seeing them get away with things into prayer for them.

Instead of “Why, God, do you let them get away with this?”, it becomes, “Please, God, change their hearts and minds”.

He did it with St. Paul.

 

[Coreopisis]

I don’t have that difficult of a time accepting that bad things happen to good people, but it infuriates me when good things happen to bad people at the expense of others. Where do I find peace in all this?

First of all you should know your not alone as many people go through such times.

Secondly you should know that my heart goes out to you. It is hard to watch those around us who are doing bad things have good things happen to them.

What I keep in mind is that the “good” I see happening to them is the good of this world, not of heaven. They gain material things and money and false happiness but they don’t gain any good for their souls.

You’ll find peace in trying to remember this.

You should also read a good book about suffering and try to offer your suffering up to the poor souls. You could help alot of people right now.

Meanwhile don’t beat yourself up to bad if you feel really angry about this for awhile as it will happen. Just try to ask God to help you get through it and don’t act on the anger. (Don’t do anything to those people.)

It’s not easy but you’ll get through this!

 

[He_Man]

So I’m going through a rough patch of learning some hard life lessons.

I was injured on the job due to my former company’s negligent maintenance, but because it is a soft tissue injury, I cannot get a reputable lawyer to take the case. The symptoms, which my doctor agrees are a result of my severe electrical shock, would be explained away by my asthma and a generally asymptomatic heart condition. I tried to work through OSHA and got no satisfaction because I quit before they received my written complaint, even though their staff member advised me otherwise when I called before putting in my resignation. I tried my state representative and the only one who seemed genuinely interested really did not understand my problem.

We also got swindled by a dishonest contractor and are left with thousands of dollars of additional work because he did just enough to appear finished on paper.

I don’t have that difficult of a time accepting that bad things happen to good people, but it infuriates me when good things happen to bad people at the expense of others. Where do I find peace in all this?

I don’t know about peace per se, but regarding the contractor, you can get some recompense.

I got hoodwinked by a shady contractor last year, and since he was unwilling to pay me the money owed, I filed a tax exemption under the statute of “Non-Business Bad Debt”, which in one form is giving money for services and losing said money (there are other occurrences that fit this bill.)

I went to court and go a judgement against him for 25k (I initially paid him 14k, but after we factored in lost rent, and the cost to finish his work, it went up). Often contractors don’t show up for judgements in court, since they know collecting it can be tricky.

I can now write that 25 k off at a rate of 3k a year, which gives me an 8 year window of sweet writeoffs.

Bottom line is, the contractor debt can be turned into a small positive and isn’t totally a lost cause.

Info can be found here: irs.gov/taxtopics/tc453.html

Sorry about your work problem, I’ll keep you in my prayers.

 

[RoyJr]

I don’t have that difficult of a time accepting that bad things happen to good people, but it infuriates me when good things happen to bad people at the expense of others. Where do I find peace in all this?

This may sound stranger than anything said, but the peace you are seeking has already been given to you. The Sacraments will bring you to this understanding. Frequent the Blessed Sacrament, receive our Lord in Holy Communion & Reconcile with Him as much as possible.

We, as human being seek for the instant gratification or easy answer, when the Lord is there, right in front of us. Loving one’s enemies has been a HUGE struggle for me as well, most recently with a fellow church ministrer (our new youth coordinator) of who I was sure was sent to me personally by the Lord as an answer to my prayers to find a good catholic woman to be my wife.

Needless to say, she wasn’t, but she did falsly accuse me of “stalking” her for months. She was forced to appologize to me by our former pastor, & she did so half-heartedly & then she told me she didn’t even want me as a friend & threw me out of her office. After our new pastor came (who is a long time friend & who I told the whole story to), did nothing & even told me that I should go appologize to her if I made her feel uncomfortable. I could go on & it may sound silly, but I really was falling for her as I thought she was the woman of my dreams. Not so.

Anyways, I can feel for you.

Something that has helped me a great deal was having a priest give me the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick. You don’t have to be on your death dead to receieve the Sacrament.