The very next day the farmer was in his field when he looked up on the hill beyond and saw his beautiful white stallion. Behind his beautiful white stallion were four more white stallions just as beautiful as his. All the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "It's a good thing you didn't trade your beautiful white stallion for a quarter of the king's kingdom, as now you have FIVE beautiful white stallions. You could probably get half of the king's kingdom now!" The farmer said, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is I now have five beautiful white stallions."
The very next day the farmer's son was breaking in one of the wild white stallions when he was thrown from the stallion and broke both of his legs. So now, all the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "What a bad thing that has happened to you. You need your son to work in the fields and now he can't as he has two broken legs." The farmer replied, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is that my son has two broken legs."
The very next day the kingdom goes to war and all the able-bodied men are drafted into the army after which they will go to the front end and they will surely die. The farmer's injured son could not go as he had two broken legs. So, all the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "That is a good thing that your son was thrown from the wild white stallion and broke both his legs, as he would have been drafted into the army, been sent to the front end and would have surely died." The farmer replied, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is my son can't go as he has two broken legs."
The moral of the story is that we are not to judge what is occurring in our life as "good" or "bad", but to have faith and trust in God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.Written by Armand
Of course, this is one of my favorite allegories. The farmer is steadfast even in the face of circumstantial doubt. He is patient, believing that his judgment is not nearly as vital as his trust in the unknown. The farmer lives in this moment, in seeming conscious contact with a power greater than his own. That Power grants him the strength to follow his convictions, to exercise his faith
ReplyDeletewith quiet certainty. He is a realist who understands the limitations of his own humanity, and who relies on the voice deep down within him. Who senses and feels and knows The Power Within. As the story ends, the presence of fortitude is apparent, and the value of restraint is exemplified. As an alcoholic who had lost the power of choice, the freedom of trust is the underlying gift of Recovery. Today I know that The Power Within me presents me with options. And that I am expected to make a choice. I, too, treasure the white stallion.
Michael there is absolutely nothing I can add to your comment...Thank you...Armand
DeleteI love this Armand and it gives me such reassurance that the things that happen in my life are neither good or bad, they just are. Nothing in Gods world happens by mistake.
ReplyDeleteAnne comments as yours let me know that there is value to the blog...Thank you so much Anne...Armand
DeleteRumi "Nets cannot capture the one who knows. She is completely free to determine who shall capture her, and no one does so without her free will. You sit behind your cover watching for prey, but the prey sees you, your cover, and the cunning behind it all." Christian Author of "Finding Faith in the Dark" on topic https://laurieshort.com/ and brilliant business book / memoir "Disrupted" by Dan Lyons all explore this theme. Lucky are those with faith. It's usually in hindsight only I see the footprints of God in the sand.
ReplyDeleteRumi continues, "He doesn't even pass by your cover. He only travels by the paths he has created."
ReplyDeleteSpiritual Being great to see you share again...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThis Comment Is From A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteArmand,
This is truly one of the most miraculous apprehensions of deep faith and humility that can be acquired. Resting in the absolute understanding that Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." is the cornerstone upon which experiential serenity is constructed. Many Thanks for teasing this topic to life.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic in the back half of Step 11 we are 'praying only for the will of God". Living in the will of God is the purpose of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDelete