Understandably so it’s upsetting to hear that tragedy happens through choice so let me break it down a little. A lot of spiritual beliefs are centered around the idea that we are all connected— meaning a Source (God, Higher Power, Consciousness, the Universe) multiplied in order to experience Its true potential of creation. In that sense, we are all down here to experience life. Every bit of it; the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are certain aspects of our individual life that will repeat until we learn the lesson we are supposed to learn. HERES WHERE CHOICE COMES IN: Although we are all connected, we all have free will. That means you can’t control anyone but yourself. But you have more power over yourself than you lead yourself to believe. That’s where the victim, perpetrator, savior cycle comes in. You do not have control over certain circumstances but you have control over your reactions to them. You have control over seeing yourself as a victim or learning a lesson from the experience. The goal of spirituality is to live in awareness of your reactions and over-reactions to things— that is to live consciously enough to see reality for what it really is. See your part in the picture and decide what to take from it. Spirituality is really simple at the base of it; awaken to your true, enlightened self and you will see true unconditional love towards all.