Roza and I
Roza, my stallion, "disappeared" from our land on Wednesday evening. There were no leads to follow up. We asked for help from our nearest village and the Chief's son was very helpful and a team of young men and boys started to search for the 'lost' horse.
We were overjoyed when Roza was returned on Friday evening.
(The reward asked for, left a bit of doubt in our minds about Roza's 'disappearance' though.....)
FOR WANT OF A NAIL..
'For want of a Nail' is a proverbial rhyme showing that small actions can result in large consequences.
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lsot.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horsehoe nail.
on the subject of a
lost horse.....
By Paulo Coelho
Many years ago in a poor Chinese village, there lived a peasant with
his son. His only material possession, apart from some land and a small
straw hut, was a horse he had inherited from his father.
One day, the horse ran off, leaving the man with no animal with which to
till the land. His neighbors – who respected him greatly for his
honesty and diligence – came to his house to say how much they regretted
what had happened. He thanked them for their visit, but asked:
- How can you know that what has happened has been a misfortune in my life?
Someone mumbled to a friend: “he can’t accept reality, let him think
what he wants, as long as he isn’t saddened by what happened.”
And the neighbors went off, pretending to agree with what they had heard.
A week later, the horse returned to the stable, but it was not alone; it
brought with it a fine mare for company. Upon hearing this, the
villagers – who were flustered since they now understood the answer the
man had given them – returned to the peasant’s house, in order to
congratulate him on his good fortune.
- Before you had only one horse, and now you have two. Congratulations! – they said.
- Many thanks for your visit and for all your concern – answered the
peasant. – But how can you know that what has happened has been a
blessing in my life?
Disconcerted, and thinking he must be going mad, the neighbors went off,
and on the way commented: “does he really not understand that God has
sent him a gift?”
A month later, the peasant’s son decided to tame the mare. But the
animal unexpectedly reared up and the boy fell and broke his leg.
The neighbors returned to the peasant’s house – bringing gifts for the
wounded boy. The mayor of the village offered his condolences to the
father, saying that all were very sad at what had happened.
The man thanked them for their visit and their concern, but asked:
- How can you know that what has happened has been a misfortune in my life?
They were all astonished to hear this, since no one could be in any
doubt that the accident of a son was a real tragedy. As they left the
peasant’s house, some said to others: “he really has gone mad; his only
son might limp forever, and he is still in doubt about whether what
happened is a misfortune.”
Some months passed, and Japan declared war on China. The Emperor’s
envoys traveled throughout the land in search for healthy young men to
be sent to the battle front. Upon arrival in the village, they recruited
all the young men except the peasant’s son, whose leg was broken.
None of the young men returned alive. The son recovered, the two animals
bred and their offspring were sold at a good price. The peasant began
visiting his neighbors to console and help them, – since they had at all
times been so caring. Whenever one of them complained, the peasant
said: “how do you know it is a misfortune?” If anyone become overjoyed,
he asked: “how do you know it is a blessing?”
And the men in that
village understood that beyond appearances, life has other meanings.
