I remember a few years ago hearing the wonderful story (parable) of, “Maybe Yes, Maybe No”. It has stuck with me all these years later. I hope you will enjoy it.
There is an ancient story of a farmer whose only horse ran away. Later that evening the neighbors gathered to commiserate with him since this was thought to be such bad luck. “Your farm will suffer, and you will not be able to plough your fields,” they said. “Surely this is a terrible thing to have happened to you.”
The farmer said, “Maybe yes, maybe no.”
The next day the horse returned but brought with it six wild horses, and the neighbors came to congratulate him and exclaim his good fortune. “You are much richer than you were before!” they said. “Surely this has turned out to be a great thing for you.”
The farmer replied, “Maybe yes, maybe no.”
Then, the following day, the farmers son tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses. He was immediately thrown from the horse and broke his leg. With this injury he couldn’t work on the farm. Again the neighbors came to offer their sympathy to the farmer for the incident. “There is more work than only you can handle, and you may be driven poor,” they said. “Surely this is a terrible misfortune.”
The old farmer simply said, “Maybe yes, maybe no.”
The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to seize young men for the army, but because of his broken leg the farmer’s son was rejected. When the neighbors heard this they came to visit the farmer and said, “How fortunate you are! Things have worked out after all. Most young men never return alive from the war. Surely this is the best of fortunes for you and your son!”
Again, the old man said, “Maybe yes, maybe no.”
What does this story mean for you? What lessons can you learn from it? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Yours In Health!
