The Farmer

"There once was a farmer who owned a horse. "You are so lucky to have a horse to pull your cart for you," his neighbors told him.

"Maybe," the farmer replied.

One day the farmer did not latch the gate properly and the horse ran off. "Oh no! This is terrible news!" The neighbors cried. "Such terrible misfortune!"

"Maybe," the farmer replied.

A few days later, the horse returned, bringing three wild horses with it. "How fantastic! You are so lucky!" his neighbors told him, "Now you are rich!"

"Maybe," the farmer replied.

The following week, the farmer's son was taming one of the wild horses when his son fell off the horse and broke his leg. "Oh no! Such bad luck again!" the neighbors cried.

"Maybe," the farmer replied.

The next day soldiers came and took away all the young men to fight in the war. The farmer's son was left behind because of his broken leg. "You are so lucky to keep your son!" his neighbors said.

"Maybe," the farmer replied.

We began October with this story about a farmer. The farmer goes through many different situations in this story, which his neighbors view as opportunities or disasters. The farmer did not dwell on the situations that life gave him. Whenever a positive or negative event happened, he knew that things change.

This story can be applied across many different parts of life. What recent "disasters" have occurred in the world or in your life? How can you have the same attitude as the farmer and not dwell on the so-called "lemons" life has given you? What are you capable of doing to bring about change?

• Renshi Michael Bunton