Perhaps

Reading an awesome S. Michael Wilcox book right now, "What the Scriptures Teach Us About Adversity" and loved this story from the writings called the Huainanzi, which he shared to illustrate a point:

"The story comes from Taoist philosophy which, generally hesitates to make many value judgments, seeing possibilities in all things and all experiences.

Near the northern border of China was a man who lived his life according to the Taoist pattern. One day his mare wandered off and was lost in the territory of the Hu, northern tribes who were enemies to the Chinese. All of his neighbors offered him their sympathy.

"How unfortunate!" they said.

But the man was hesitant to pass judgment. He said, "Who knows? Perhaps this will turn out to be a blessing. We will have to wait and see."

Within a few months, his mare returned and what is more, a fine horse from the northern territories accompanied her. Everyone now congratulated him. "How very fortunate you are! You have an additional horse, a fine stallion!"

The man replied, "Perhaps, but his may also be a cause of misfortune."

The man had a fine son who loved horses, and while he was riding the new horse, he fell of and broke his leg.

The villagers felt sorry for the man and his son. "What a disadvantage to have a broken leg. It will leave the boy crippled," was the common sentiment.

"Perhaps even this will one day turn out to be a blessing," said his father.

About a year later, the northern Hu invaded China. All able-bodied young men were required to take up arms and fight against the invaders. There was a terrible war, and as a result, around the border regions, nine out of ten young men died. This man's son was not required to join in the battles because he was crippled, and so both the boy and his father survived.

As this story suggests, it may be wiser to delay our judgments and face what we must face in the present, leaving the future to take care of itself."