Things Are Different Now

I keep hearing the phrase “things are different now” or “I wonder how different (fill in the blank) will be once we can see each other again” or “I don’t like how different things are now” and the list could probably go on and on. Feel free to add your favorites to the list.

What I would like to encourage us to consider is this; different isn’t always a bad or negative thing. It’s up to us how we want to label something “good or bad”. I am reminded of the Taoist story of the farmer and the horse.

A paraphrase of the story goes like this:

One day a farmer’s horse runs away and the other villagers feel terrible and tell the farmer how sad they are for him that his horse has run away. The farmer replies “good or bad? Who knows?”

The next day the horse returns with several wild horses. The villagers are happy and tell the farmer how lucky he is to have these horses. Again, the farmer replies “good or bad? Who knows”.

As the farmer’s only son is trying to train the wild horses he is thrown off and breaks his leg. Again, the villagers cry and say how terrible this is that his only son can not help him now. And the farmer replies “good or bad? Who knows?”

The next day the village finds out they are in a war and the military comes through the village drafting the able-bodied boys and men to join the war. The farmer’s son is spared because of his broken leg. The villagers are thrilled and tell the farmer how lucky he is that his son can stay home and not go to war.

And, the farmer again replies “Good or bad? Who knows”.

We could go on and on but I think you get the point. Nothing happens in our life that is “good or bad” until we decide how to view the situation.

What may seem like a “bad” event may turn out to be a healing moment, an opportunity to make another choice, or see something in a “new light”.

Love and Blessings,
Rev. Donna