good luck? bad luck? maybe.

It’s been a while (sorry for that), but I wanted to return with an old Zen Buddhist story:

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The Farmers’ Luck

There is an old farmer who had worked his crops for many long years.  One day his horse ran away.  Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.  “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses.  “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The following day, the farmers’ son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg.  The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy.  “How unfortunate,” they said.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army.  Seeing the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by.  The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied

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This story is very applicable to each of us, especially when times seem difficult.  We can never know if something is a good thing or a bad thing, as surprising results can come from anything.  God works in His own way and can bless tragic situations in a way that you couldn’t have imagined.  The important thing is that we withhold judgment of an event or a challenge and simply carry on.  Just like the farmer, continue to just be.