☯️Who knows what is good and what is bad?☯️

The origin of this parabol is unknown but it comes from the Taoist tradition so it could easily be more than 2,000 years old.

A farmer and his son lived on a farm in the countryside.

They owned a beautiful horse they cherished deeply. The farmer entered the horse into a village contest and won first prize along with some money.

When his neighbors gathered to congratulate him, they said enviously, “How lucky you are to have such a remarkable horse.”

To the neighbor’s puzzlement, the farmer responded,

☯️ “Who knows what is good or bad.”

Not long after, some thieves heard about the prize-winning horse and stole it during the night.

The neighbors came by to express their sympathy for the farmers loss and again were confused by the farmers calm response…

☯️“Who knows what is good or bad.”

The next week the spirited horse escaped from the thieves and miraculously returned to the farm - with several other spectacular wild horses.

Again, the astounded neighbors commended the farmer on his incredible good fortune, but his reaction was unchanged -

☯️ “Who knows what is good or bad.”

Not long after, the farmer’s son fell off one of the horses and broke his leg. Compassionate neighbors again expressed their heartfelt sorrow.

☯️ “Who knows what is good or bad,” repeated the farmer calmly.

A short time later, the King’s army passed through town requiring all young and able-bodied men to be drafted into the War, but the farmer’s son was passed over due to his badly broken leg.

<aside> 👉

David Gallan says “Of all the ways we can accumulate wisdom, the most common, but not necessarily the most fun is through experience: the good and bad things that happened in our lives**.** But there are other ways to gain wisdom.”

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