”Near China’s northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him. ”Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing,” said his father. After a few months, his animal
came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.
”Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune,” said his father.
Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse. Everyone commiserated with him. ”Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing,” said his father. One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All able-bodied young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of ten men died. This man’s son did not join in the
fighting because he was crippled and so both the boy and his father survived.”
Historien om pojken och hästen är en gammal taoistisk parabel som beskriver något väldigt viktigt, nämligen att det är alla ”misslyckanden” (i vår bedömning) som möjligjort alla efterkommande framgångar. Det är helt enkelt svårt att veta ifall ett misslyckande verkligen är ett misslyckande, eftersom vi inte vet vad den kommer att leda oss till. Regniga dagar är det värdefullt att påminna sig själv om detta faktum.
