There once was a village that had among its people a very wise old man. The villagers trusted this man to provide them answers to their questions and concerns.
One day, a farmer from the village went to the wise man and said in a frantic tone, "Wise man, help me. A horrible thing had happened. My ox has died and I have no animal to help me plow my field! Isn't this the worst thing that could have possibly happened?!"
The wise man had replied, "May be so, may be not."
The man hurried back to the village and reported to his neighbours that the wise man had gone mad. Surely this WAS the worst thing that could have happened.
The very next day, however, a strong young horse was seen near his farm. Because the man had no ox to rely on, he had the idea to catch the horse to replace his ox - and he did. Plowing the field had never been easier. He went back to the wise man to apologize. "You were right, the wise man. Losing my ox wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. It was the blessing in disguise! I never would have captured my new horse had that not happened. You must agree that this is the best thing that could have happened!"
The wise man replied once again, "May be so, may be not."
Not again - thought the farmer. The wise man had gone mad now.
A few days later the farmer's son was riding the horse and was thrown off. He broke his leg and wouldn't be able to help with the crop. Oh no, thought the man. This time he said, "How did you know that capturing my horse was not a good thing? You were right again. This time I'm sure this is the worst thing that could have happened!"
The wise man replid once again, "May be so, may be not!" Enraged that the wise man could be so ignorant, the farmer stormed back to the village.
The next day troops arrived to take every able-bodied man to the war that had just broken out. The farmer's son was the only young man in the village who didn't have to go. He would live, while others would surely die.
Again, the wise man turned out to be right.
Whatever happens to you in your life, remember, "May be so, may be not,"
