From early youth, we learn a hard lesson: Life is not always fair. Some people are rich, others poor. Some live in mansions, others in slums. Some take extravagant vacations, while others struggle to pay bills and keep food on their table. Some are healthy, while others suffer. Some are athletically gifted, others not...and this list could go on.
Such dichotomies caused King Solomon to write: “Under the sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Life seems unfair because we immediately define fairness as being equal in every way. We confuse "fairness" with "sameness." Yet, they are not the same, just as we are not all the same. We are all God’s children, but have different physical traits, abilities, and talents. Therefore, this type of fairness is not the issue. Fairness is to be just; guided by the principles of truth, reason, and justice, while treating everyone the same, regardless of circumstances. Thus, the reason why life is not always fair, is because we choose to sin through selfishness, greed, and by being uncaring; acting to ensure our own security, advantage, and interests above others'.
God, however, shines His love, grace, mercy, and compassion upon all creation equally, making “fairness” a characteristic of godliness; a God-like trait we need to follow.
Fr. John
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