There is a Chinese folktale with a refrain that goes, “maybe so, maybe not.” Here is a summary: A farmer and his son had a work horse, but one day the horse ran away causing the neighbors to exclaim, “What terrible luck!” To which the farmer replies, "Maybe so, maybe not.” The next day the horse returns with a herd of wild horses, and the neighbors praise the farmer’s luck. But the farmer replies “maybe so, maybe not.” The story goes through multiple misfortunes, which later become lucky, and each time the farmers response is the same: “maybe so, maybe not.”
What a valuable lesson. To be able to forget the sorrows of the past, and worry not about the uncertainty of the future, but to live in the present moment.
This is a learning lesson that I am going through right now. Three years ago, I had to sell my house, but I sold it to a man that was willing to rent it back to me for ten years for half of what my house payment had been. What good luck my neighbors exclaimed, and I got myself thinking the same, until two days later after the closing. The new owner was killed in a plane crash, and he had no will!! Oh no my friends exclaimed, what bad luck, and I did feel the same. But a couple of months later, the house resold to an LLC, and they agreed to the honor the past lease terms. Oh, what good luck my friends all said, but by now I was learning to say, more to be revealed
Three months ago, I got a letter that said the new owners want to go with a month-to-month lease. What bad luck everyone said, “they want you out.” But once the sales contract was reviewed it showed it had to be a year lease. But the sales agent mentioned nothing about the rent being raised, and we all know what is going on with rentals and home prices. Do I get to say, “what bad luck?” I could, but a better response for me is, “more to be revealed.”
I need to create a little distance between the story of this situation and what the ultimate reality might be. As I lay in bed, I remind myself that only time can tell the whole story. But the more important thing is, what is and what will be my attitude be when the next situation comes along? Will I cry and moan, “what bad luck” or will I have the ability to be present in the moment, and believe that there will be a good outcome?
(The picture of Marilee's house at the top of the post can be found here.)
I keep reminding myself that at least there will be a story, no matter what the end result will be. More to be revealed.
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