Everything happens for a reason, that reason causes changes. Sometimes it hurts; sometimes it is hard, but in the end, it is all for the best. Let us be grateful to life for what is happening, for every twist and turn because there is a reason for every single thing; there is a reason for every worry and concern.  The hardest thing about everything that happens is waiting for that reason to show up. Never stop trusting God and believing in His plan. Wait on God and trust in Him. Let us learn from the following narrative inspired by the writings of an unknown author.

As the story goes, once upon a time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Maybe,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“Maybe,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Maybe,” said the farmer.

The farmer is practicing non-judgment. He understands the true nature of life, that we can't judge any event as an "end" in a way. Our life doesn't play out like a work of fiction. There are not definite breaks that separate one moment versus another, and there is not a perfectly formulated end which everything builds to.

There is always tomorrow. And whether the day is good or bad, there are a million effects which can arise from one event. Good and bad are interconnected. They are, in fact, two sides of the same coin. If things seem perfect, they are not. Things can change in an instant, at all times and they will at some point or another.

This does not mean that we cannot be happy. On the contrary, it means that we need to realize this truth and live in a way that we are constantly aware of it in order to find peace and happiness.  Let us ponder on it; observe our life through the lens of this infinitely co-arising universe. This act in itself can bring us a great sense of peace.

By Tim Pedrosa