Wisdom of Ben Sira Chapter 20

Verse 9 says: "There may be good fortune for a person in adversity, and a windfall may result in a loss." It reminds me of a old Chinese legend that goes like this: There once was a father and son who lived together in an old, abandoned fort. One day the man’s horse, his only possession, runs off. One by one his neighbors come and offer their condolences on the bad news. Each time the man would ask, “How do you know this is bad news?” A few days later the horse returned followed by several wild horses. Once again, the neighbors came by and this time they congratulated the man on his good fortune. To which the man replied, “How do you know it is good fortune?” A few days after that, the man’s son was riding one of the wild horses. He fell off and broke his leg. The neighbors came by and expressed their sorrow at his bad luck, To which he obviously replied, “How do you know its bad luck?” Two days later a Chinese War Lord ordered all the able-bodied men into his army. But this man’s son was not sent to war because of his broken leg. The neighbors came again and congratulated him on the good news, to which he replied, “How do you know it is good news.” And on and on. Ben Sira could have easily told that story. 

How many times have I perceived a situation to be bad news only to dsicover that it wasn't. Scripture tells us that the pains of life fall on the good and the bad alike. So too do God's blessings. Perhas we would do well to simply be present in whatever situation we are in and ask ourselves wher we find God in that momemnt.