They say that things happen for a reason

They say that things happen for a reason. How much stock can you put in that, though. I mean, could it really be true all of the time??? Is there really some great force directing every move that we make? Or are there certain moments, occurrences in which something bigger than ourselves has played a part? Three weeks ago, while heading home from work, I was in a car accident. It just so happened that I was by myself, as it was a Monday. If it had been Tuesday, E would have been with me. But it was a Monday, and I was headed home by myself. Was there a reason for my being in the accident? Was there some thing, bigger than myself (and the driver who flew across the road in front of me) that put me in that place at that time? The most obvious effects of the accident were that I had to find (and finance) a new car, and talk to a lawyer about my medical claims. There are less obvious consequences like a much higher interest rate than I used to have, a higher car payment, and dealing with uninsured motorists (seriously folks, carry insurance!!). But what about the ripple effect--the things in my future that happen as a direct, or indirect, result of the accident? Were they somewhere in the greater plan? All of the things happening now and in the future that result, in some way, from the accident? Is there really some cosmic reason for every detail???