Good luck, bad luck : who knows?

I read a version of this story over the weekend. Its simple but it really resonated with me.. as the primary message that stabilised in me during the OpenDharma retreat I did in India was the sense of not knowing what was next on the path but knowing that there was always a surprise in store ...

The Lost Horse - Chinese Folktale.

There was a farmer who lived on the northern frontier of China.
One day, for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"

Some months later his horse returned, bringing a splendid nomad stallion. Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a disaster?"

Their household was richer by a fine horse, which his son loved to ride. One day he fell and broke his hip. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"

A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man was conscripted into battle. Only the man's son was left in the village because of his broken bones.

Blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: good luck, bad luck, who knows?