I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense. — Harold Kushner

Talk about the quote. Do you think life makes sense? Or are you still trying to figure it out?

WHAT WE DID TODAY

Today's Big Question is "Why do bad things happen?" We responded to some answers offered by various belief systems and heard the story of Job. In our WCUU broadcast, we said UUs think it is important to accept the fact that life is a mix of bad and good, and to do something to help when bad things happen. We ranked some bad events that could happen, and said which ones UUs might do something about. We finished in WIT Time by celebrating life the way it is, good and bad.

ANSWERING TODAY'S BIG QUESTION

What do family members have to say about why bad things happen? Why to they think good things happen?

TRYING SOME SUPERSTITIONS

Try out some good-luck superstitions to see if they work. If you say a hopeful thought aloud, knock on a piece of wood with your knuckles so speaking your hopes aloud will not doom your chances; then say "Knock on wood." Cross your fingers when you hope for something (some people think this gesture is a way to make the sign of the Christian cross to keep the Devil away). Pick a four-leaf clover for good luck, if you can find one. Bring a frog into your house for good luck! What other superstitions have you heard? (Search on the Internet for more, if you wish.) After a few days, talk about whether your luck has improved.

Talk about what superstitions are, what they mean to you. Did you ever believe in the power of superstitions? What do you think makes superstitions survive?

REFLECT ON YOUR BELIEFS

People say, "Misery loves company." Is that true? Get together with some other people and talk about bad things that have happened to you. Does it feel good to do that? Do you still feel better a few hours later? Together talk about good things that have happened or are happening to you. Does that feel different? Better?

SHARED SEARCH

Does your family have stories about very good things or very bad things that have happened to individuals? Which stories are told most often? Have you appreciated the good things and overcome the bad ones? If not, what more can you do? Was there a time when somebody had what seemed like bad luck but it turned into good luck?

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Photograph the results of somebody's good action. Share the photograph with others and ask why they think the good thing happened.

FAMILY FAITH IN ACTION

Find out about cooperative games to play at your next family gathering. Cooperative games are non-competitive. Nobody wins, so nobody loses. The Learning For Life website describes some cooperative games. Other sites includeCreative Kids at Home and Peace First.