A couple were feeling very lonely and prayed to God for a son. The couple were granted a son, and began a great celebration. “You are so fortunate to have borne a child this late in life”, said a neighbor. In the father’s stead, a wise man answered with the simple reply, “Maybe”.
Time passed and the child grew into a young man and wanted a horse. Having little money the parents prayed hard and sincerely for a horse for their son. God granted this request. The father rejoiced saying how fortunate they were and how kind God had again been to him, and the wise man responded as he did before, with the simple injunction of, “Maybe”.
A few weeks later the son was out riding and had a most terrible accident, being thrown from the horse and breaking several ribs and both legs. The father responded by admonishing God for being suddenly so cruel and unjust. The wise man, who was never very far from the family, simply responded as always, and, with a half smile, from the corner of his mouth said, “Maybe”.
The son lay injured, fighting for his life, when a horrible war broke out. All the other young men in the village went off to fight this war and, as the odds were against them, they were all killed in battle. Meanwhile, the son made miraculous strides in his recovery. The father now commented how kind God was in injuring his son so that ultimately his life was spared. And the wise man simply smiled his half smile and replied, “Maybe”.
There is no end to this parable. It is simply indicative of the currents of karma and our ultimate inability to discern what is, indeed, “good karma” and what is so-called “bad karma”.
The Integrated Ascended Master looks at karma as “lessons” and just keeps on keeping on. In the dealing with his karmic lessons in life, he goes through them as graciously as possible, and with the half smile of the wise one, not judging it, but simply replying to those that would judge it either “good” or “bad” with “maybe.”
