There is an old Zen story about a farmer and his son who had a beloved stallion that helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and the neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
The horse returned home a few days later, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the mares when she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
Weeks passed when soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all the able-bodied boys for the army. Because he was still recovering from his injury, the son was not chosen. Friends shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
Note, this post is for me, I’m just sharing it with you.