Griffin Speaks

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

On Tuesday, January 22, 2002 my mother and brother went to Compass Bank in the Montgomery Mall to transact banking business and met a wonderful 22-year-old Financial Sales Representative named Stacy Williams. They were impressed with Stacy’s professionalism. My brother, Melvin, even commented that she looked like an angel. He told my mother that he thought she would one day be President of the bank.

On Thursday, January 24, 2002 Stacy called my brother, Melvin and requested that he bring additional documents to her office. He delivered to her the requested documents. Again he was impressed with this young lady.

On Saturday, January 26, 2002 Stacy called my brother and informed him that his loan was approved. She told him to meet her Monday, January 28, 2002 to close the loan. My brother was happy.

On Monday, January 28, 2002 my brother and mother were at Compass Bank in the Montgomery Mall at 9am sharp. They waited for about ten minutes for Stacy before going to the counter and asking why she was not in the office. They were informed that Stacy Williams was no longer employed with the bank. They were shocked. My mom asked if she had quit? The employee at the bank quickly responded “Oh No! She was killed in a car accident last night in Eufaula.

My mother and brother were devastated that this promising young woman had lost her life in an accident. Immediately they began to wonder how this could happen to such a wonderful person. They are still grieving.

Stacy Williams, 22 died when her car collided on highway 82 around 7:40 PM ten miles outside the city of Eufaula, with a cow and a flat-bed truck loaded with batteries. She died on impact in one of the worst accidents in Eufaula’s history. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:00 PM Sunday night January 27, 2002.

Stacy was a 1997 Honor Graduate of Eufaula High School and a former head cheerleader. She was a 2000 graduate of Auburn University, where she received a B.S. degree in Mass Communication. She was a devoted member of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Stacy had gone home to attend a birthday celebration for her mom. The accident occurred as she was returning to Montgomery.

Stacy was the daughter of David and Joyce Williams. Stacy’s family and friends were devastated by this tragic loss. Dr. Ken Bush, the family’s pastor is quoted in the Eufaula Tribune as saying that “she was a very sweet and thoughtful person.” “She had a very loving and gracious spirit about her.”

Why did God allow such a horrible thing to happen to such a fine person? That is an age-old question. We all have picked up the paper and read horrific stories of young people killed in accidents on their way to their wedding or returning home from the prom. Where do we go for answers? It is difficult for many to hold onto their faith when good people are the victim of bad things.

When I learned of this tragedy I quickly went to my bible and read the book of Job. The unfair suffering of Job reveals the suffering of Jesus. In the midst of prolong suffering Job refused to curse god. I finally accepted the fact that I have no idea why God allows bad things to happen to good people. I am comforted with a passage from (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV): “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Most of us do not know the day or the hour that our life or the life of our love ones will end. We should always live each day as if it were our last. You should never go to bed angry with someone that you love. The only guarantee in life is the breath you just took.

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles at www.greggriffin.com