Things happen because people let them, which is the ultimate proof that free will is a thing. And there's no stopping it. Where there's a will there's a way, as they say. That's how life works, driving everything from evolution to innovation. And the moment I got to realize that, the question about "why does shit happen" just vanished from my mind. Poof, gone! In fact, any and all questions with a "why" in it, gone too. And because free will is a thing, probably the most powerful there is for a living entity, anyone strong willed enough may soon move the rest, mountains included.
I know the first filtering line of defence against strong willed individuals, or free willers as I like to call people like me, is family. Regular god fearing family cells may give it all trying to oppose or expose any free willer within its walls. As a result, most would be young free willers are soon to be defeated by families. The second line of defence against free willer emergence may be the extended family, the friends and close enough relations. These dedicated people may do their best breaking spirited free willers before they grow too strong, pushing back at any wild things, forcing them into surrender, or eventually, turning them to ashes. The third line of defence may involve using legal restrictions. Passed that, the few free willers left kicking will have learned exactly what it takes to deal with national and international barriers. Any further, strong free willers may only stop themselves by failure of their own will, or by accumulation of heavier obstacles.
At some point, flailing free willers may find help and solace in joining others like them, choosing to momentarily unite forces, or submit to apparently superior types. From there, the only remaining game is survival, at the expense of anything else. This is the crossroad I find myself looking at nowadays. I swear, I'll scorch the Earth if I have to, so help me God.