#031 GOOD LUCK OR BAD LUCK?
Must the glass always be half-full or half-empty? What if there was a different way of looking at things entirely? A new perspective that eliminates the need to decide just how full the glass really should be?
By way of illustration, here is a story based on an old proverb:
There was an old man who had a beautiful horse. This horse was not only his family’s pride and joy, but it was also a means to an income for the family because it was used to till his fields.
One day, the horse ran away. Fellow villagers visited the old man to give their condolences for such a stroke of bad luck, as the loss of his horse represented a staggering financial blow that would be hard to recover from.
“Good luck, bad luck: Who knows?” replied the old man. “It is as it is. My horse is gone.”
Perplexed at the man’s nonchalance towards the apparent tragedy, the villagers went about their business.
A few days later, the horse returned with a pack of 12 wild horses in tow. Again the villagers gathered, this time to offer their congratulations at such a stroke of good luck. Now he had a herd of 12 more horses with which to make 12 times the income! What a godsend!, they said.
“Good luck, bad luck: Who can tell?” replied the old man again. “All I see is that 12 more horses have appeared.”
Then, when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. What bad luck! The villagers exclaimed. Your son has broken his leg. That’s terrible. How will you get your work done? You are too old to do it yourself. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?"
(now predictable and equally frustrating) He added: “My son has broken his legs. That is all I know.”
Shortly thereafter, the government forcibly removed all the able-bodied men from the village, as the country had gone to war. The old man’s son, however, was spared since his leg was broken.
Now was that Good luck or bad luck? Who can tell? Who knows?
Everything that seems on the surface to be an evil may be a good in disguise. And everything that seems good on the surface may really be an evil. So we are wise when we leave it to God to decide what is good fortune and what misfortune, and thank him that all things turn out for good with those who love him
Excellent reflection of life! Sometimes, nothing is what it seems... and we feel depressed because of some situations we experience. In the end, God always knows what he's doing and he's who decides in what situations he places us. If you ask me, I think we should learn from each of our experiences. :)
ReplyDeleteI always say "God is perfect" He is aware of our needs and when is the right time, we have to bring good out of bad moments or experiences without wondering why it happens all the time, victimising us as if it could change the course of our anecdotes.
DeleteI think God has a perfect plan for everyone. When he take away things from us it is because he has better things to give.
ReplyDeleteGreat thought, just keep in mind that we must avoid making the same mistakes and we have to behave appropriately :) tc
DeleteI love this reflection because is true. We can`t talk about good or bad luck that we might have in future, because the only person who knows what is going to happen the next days of our life is God. I know that if we give all of us every single day, he is going to decide that we deserve "good luck" for our life. Also, it could happen in other way if we make bad actions that cause harm to people. We have to offer whatever we do to God and we can see the life in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Dafne, I guess you understood it perfectly, God is merciful to us,
DeleteMark 10:18 “And Jesus said to him: Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
This story make me a reflection of my live. When something goes wrong people to tend to think in bad luck, maybe something is not what it appears to be, but nothing happens by choice. God does it. Believe it! I agree with you when you say “ we have to bring good out of bad moments or experiences.
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt about it, what is better is that in most cases it happens cus something better is coming, just have faith.
DeleteI think , that as says the saying after the tempest always the calmness comes, as this case demonstrates it, after the bad things , good things can come.
ReplyDeleteLizeth Torres
Right Lizeth, after a storm comes a calm... :)
DeleteI liked the illustration, clear and simple but leaving a message that I know will remain in my mind, what we consider as good or bad luck can be the opposite of what we think.
ReplyDeleteNothing is what it seems and only God knows if it was good or bad luck.
1 Thessalonians 5:22: "Abstain from all forms of evil."