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 Arman
As a fable, the farmer and the white stallion is a fabulous one. In my life, however, I've never known a person so wise, patient, resolute and faithful as the farmer- all in one. I more closely identify with the villagers. "Look at what you've done, see what you missed, you should have known known better, you're a loser". Of course, the difference is that I didn't need a villager to iterate those self-demeaning always-disapproving characteristics. Instead, I created for myself this unwelcome narrative, and then lived down to it. I led a double life - the life of the actor desperately reciting the lines written for someone else. Today by integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they have become my life, I can live in harmony with The Power Within me. I no longer have to wonder whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. I simply have to live as the person I was born to be. Recovery from alcoholism. Discovery of self.
ReplyDeleteMichael a life lived in the present in the will of God is free of judgement...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteThis 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 once again teasing this topic to life as it is most apropos as we navigate this current pandemic. This too shall pass and God is walking with us every step of the way.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic as an alcoholic when I encounter the unknown my human instinct kicks in. it is only through the grace of God that I can let go and maintain peace in my life...thank you...Armand
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