This fable is from the Huainazi, a Chinese philosophical and governmental text compiled before 139 BCE.
Good luck and bad luck create each other
and it is difficult to foresee their change.
A righteous man lived near the border.
For no reason, his horse ran off into barbarian territory.
Everyone felt sorry for him.
But His father said to him:
“Who knows if that won’t bring you good luck?”
Several months later,
his horse came back with a group of good, noble barbarian horses.
Everyone congratulated him.
But His father said to him:
“Who knows if that won’t bring you bad luck?”
Now his house is rich in horses
and the son mounted with joy, loving to ride.
He fell and broke his leg.
Everyone felt sorry for him.
But His father said to him:
“Who knows if that won’t bring you good luck?”
One year later
the barbarians invaded across the border.
Adult men strung up their bows and went into battle.
Nine out of ten border residents were killed,
except for the son because of his broken leg.
Father and son were protected – both survived.
Hence: Bad luck brings good luck
and good luck brings bad luck.
This happens without end
and nobody can gauge it.
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Een wijze fabel over het uitstellen van ons oordeel. Wat vandaag ongeluk lijkt, kan morgen bescherming blijken; wat vandaag geluk lijkt, kan later een verborgen risico dragen.
“Het hart des mensen overdenkt zijn weg, maar de HEERE bestuurt zijn gang.”
— Spreuken 16:9
Misschien klinkt Jezus zacht mee: “Wees dan niet bezorgd voor de dag van morgen; want de dag van morgen zal voor zichzelf zorgen.”
— Matteüs 6:34
Mullah zou misschien glimlachen: “Ik noemde het verlies, toen winst, toen ramp, toen redding — en intussen bleef het paard gewoon paard. Ik was de enige die veranderde.”