RJ 2: Anne Lamott

And he said--gently--that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born--and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible.

I believe this to be true. And I especially believe it when other people's things are breaking down. when it's my stuff, I believe the direct cause is my bad character.