Sai Ong's Horse

There once was an elderly frontiersman--Sai Ong as he was known--in ancient China who made his living largely by the single horse that he owned.  One day, the horse got lose from the stable and ran off.  Sai Ong was unable to find him.  When the local villagers heard of this, they came to share their concerns and sympathy for Sai Ong.  "What a tragedy.  However will you get by now?"  Sai Ong replied calmly and seemingly unaffected, "Maybe yes, maybe no.  How do we know this is not a blessing in disguise?" 

Weeks later, Sai Ong's horse returned with another wild horse from the plains.  Suddenly, Sai Ong was twice as fortunate as before.  The villagers came, "Sai Ong, you are so lucky!"  He replied, "Maybe yes, maybe no.  How do we know if this doesn't prove a misfortune?"  The villagers looked on in bewilderment.

A few days later, Sai Ong's son went about training the new horse and was thrown, breaking his leg.  The villagers came to say, "Oh no, Sai Ong!  This is awful.  Who will work with you now?"  Again as before, Sai Ong replied, "Maybe yes, maybe no.  How do we know this is not a blessing in disguise?"  The villagers couldn't believe what they heard.

A few months later, China went to war with the barbarians beyond the Great Wall and the overwhelming majority of men who fought died.  Sai Ong's son was sparred this fate, unable to fight with his broken leg. While most families lost their men of fighting age, Sai Ong did not.   

Doesn't life throw challenges our way that at first seem terrible, but in time, most somehow prove otherwise?  Rolling with the punches and sailing the seven C's can be so challenging when things are at their worst.  Yet, perhaps everything does really happen for a good reason?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  In our worry, anxiety, even anger, can we somehow see the wonderful possibilities yet to be discovered in this wonderful life?  Doesn't every dark cloud hold a silver lining?  Can we see how even seeming misfortune will soon prove a fortune once again?  Can we remember the story of Sai Ong's horse?