Today I heard an example of a man whose wife had lung cancer: he claimed it served the purpose of bringing them closer. Now, I know nothing about this man, barring what he says in these comments.

You know, I didn't respond to David in the comments thread at my post because I thought: Regardless of what else he's saying, the guy's wife had lung cancer - I am not going to mock or bash him for how he says he/his wife coped with that.

But: This is ignoring, even, the idea that painful things happening to others only happen to help YOU grow, an idea which kind of disgusts me.

Well, yeah.