The Story Teller

Once there was a farmer who owns a beautiful mare. All his neighbors keep on telling him how lucky he is to have such a beautiful mare, to this the farmer only answered ‘That’s the way it is.’

But one day, the mare ran away and the farmer was sad. The neighbors went to him and told him they were sorry for his losing the mare. To this, the farmer only answered ‘That’s the way it is.’

After  a few days, the beautiful mare came back. With her was a handsome wild stallion. The neighbors were awed. They told the farmer he is so lucky to have the mare back and to acquire such a handsome stallion. To this the farmer only said ‘That’s the way it is.’

But one day as the farmer’s son was trying to ride the wild stallion, the horse threw him off. He fell on the ground and broke his leg. The farmer was sad and the neighbors told him they were sorry for the tragedy. To this the farmer only answered ‘That’s the way it is.’

Then, a war broke. Every boy in the village was enlisted except for the farmer’s son. After the war, no one was able to come back. All of the young lads died in the war and all that’s left in the village was the farmer’s lame son. The neighbors told the farmer how lucky he is to still have his son alive. To this the farmer only answered.. ‘That’s the way it is.’

‘Truly, blessing turns to disaster and disaster turns to blessing; the changes have no end, nor the mystery can be fathomed.’

Adapted from The Taoist Farmer

Image Source: connect.in.com

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