Through the years, I’ve been guilty of analyzing situations,patterns and people’s thought processes. It’s silly, I admit, because I only have a fraction of information – yet draw conclusions. It’s become something of a “hobby” to me – just guessing what motivates people and try to figure out “what makes them tick.” (Oh geeze, do you even know that phrase?!) Yet it’s a complete waste of time (obviously) because I don’t know what I don’t know. Likewise, what any of us perceive as a blessing, may very well not be! And the opposite is true too.
I want to share a fable that my friend read at our lady’s bible study recently. It’s retold by Max Lucado, one of my all-time favorite authors, and I knew you’d love it.
It’s called:
The Woodcutter’s Wisdom
Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before — such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.
People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. “This horse is not a horse to me,” he would tell them. “It is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?”
The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the horse.
One morning he found that the horse was not in his stable. All the village came to see him. “You old fool,” they scoffed, “we told you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have been too high. Now the horse is gone and you’ve been cursed with misfortune.”
The old man responded, “Don’t speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. If I’ve been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?”
The people contested, “Don’t make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse.”
The old man spoke again. “All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone. The rest I don’t know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can’t say. All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?”
The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was crazy. They had always thought he was a fool; if he wasn’t, he would have sold the horse and lived off the money. But instead, he was a poor woodcutter, an old man still cutting firewood and dragging it out of the forest and selling it. He lived hand to mouth in the misery of poverty. Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool.
After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn’t been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him. Once again, the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke.
“Old man, you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us.”
The man responded, “Once again, you go too far. Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don’t judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see only a fragment. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge? You read only one page of a book. Can you judge the whole book? You read only one word of one phrase. Can you understand the entire phrase?”
“Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word. All you have is one fragment! Don’t say that this is a blessing. No one knows. I am content with what I know. I am not perturbed by what I don’t.”
“Maybe the old man is right,” they said to one another. So, they said little. But down deep, they knew he was wrong. They knew it was a blessing. Twelve wild horses had returned. With a little work, the animals could be broken and trained and sold for much money.
The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs. Once again, the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgments.
“You were right,” they said. “You proved you were right. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse. Your only son has broken both his legs, and now in your old age you have no one to help you. Now you are poorer than ever.”
The old man spoke again. “You people are obsessed with judging. Don’t go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows. We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments.”
It so happened, that a few weeks later, the country engaged in war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured.
Once again, the people gathered around the old man, crying and screaming because their sons had been taken. There was little chance that they would return. The enemy was strong, and the war would be a losing struggle. They would never see their sons again.
“You were right, old man,” They wept. “God knows you were right. This proves it. Your son’s accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever.”
The old man spoke again. “It is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions. No one knows. Say only this: Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not. No one knows if it is a blessing or a curse. No one is wise enough to know. Only God knows.”
The End
At the end of the day, we only know what we know. As the old man reminds us – We only see a fragment.
In reality, that’s a really tough concept to grasp because our perception of situations is so much like the villagers.
We had a friend share a similar story of his buddy that was involved in a horrific accident at a train crossing. Although his body was severely damaged, his life was saved by the accident. You see, when he underwent surgery to repair the damage from the accident, cancer was found (and removed) which would have otherwise taken his life.
In our limited human minds, we cannot know a true blessing from a curse – from our perceived blessing or curse viewpoint.. It makes sense to look to God to interpret these events. What is He teaching us? What can we learn? God is always working and always in the midst. Look for Him and join Him in His work. Then you will turn every situation into a blessing for sure!
Keep Looking UP!!! I love you dearly,
Michele Morin says
Whoa–I need this reminder all the time, because I look for the big picture, but fall so short in seeing it. Thankful (SO Thankful!) that God sees the trajectory of the story from start to finish. May we find grace to trust Him with our own unique story lines.
Char says
Amen!
Joanne Viola says
I remember this story quite well from one of Max Lucado’s books. Earlier this morning I read Ecclesiastes 3:11 which goes along with this post so well. We have such a limited perspective. While eternity has been set in our hearts so that we will seek God, we still cannot see the entire scope of God’s work from beginning to end. May He help us to trust Him in all things. Blessings to you today, friend!
Char says
Such a limited, limited perspective… for sure Joanne!
Patrick Weseman says
Very beautiful story. I am either to close to the tree to see the forest or looking at the forest and not seeing the tree. I need to try to an equal distance.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Char says
That’s a great analogy Patrick.
Laurie says
What a wonderful story. Such a great insight. I, too, am guilty of trying to figure out what makes people tick (I was familiar with that phrase!) without having the whole picture. Thank you for the reminder that we don’t know everything. Very wise council!
Char says
I am an analyzer Lori! I remember my mom used to say, “Char would you stop analyzing everything?”
Rebecca Hastings says
How easily we fall into this mindset and judge! It happens everyday, and we think we are so wise. But God sees the whole story. He knows. It is not our job to judge blessing or curse. It is our job to have faith. Amen!
Char says
So true – that it is very easy to assume that something is a blessing or a curse. And we really don’t know.
Ruth says
“God is always working…Look for Him and join Him…” What great advice!
I love this story! Thanks for sharing it here.
Char says
Thanks for stopping in and reading Ruth!
nylse says
I love this fable and this is my approach to life. We only know what we know – no opinionated assessment is necessary. God knows the big picture, so rely on Him and strengthen our faith in the process.
Char says
It was a great table for me too Nylse!
Anita Ojeda says
What a powerful parable! Thank you for sharing it (and for hosting the link up!)
Char says
Thanks Anita! Have a great week.
Patricia says
Thank you for sharing this story! As for me, I am trying to see all events as a blessing from God. Even the most challenging events in my life have proven to be blessings sooner or later They just are
Char says
That’s a great perspective Patricia!