Ursula K. Le Guin

Talk amongst yourselves.

I am a bit of an odd duck; a Taoist with strong Christian traditions. What is a Taoist?

A Taoist farmer's only horse broke out of his corral and ran away. His neighbors, upon hearing the news, remarked, "what bad luck!" The farmer responded, "maybe." A week later, the horse returned, bringing with it a herd of wild horses. The farmer's neighbors, upon hearing the news, remarked, "what good luck!" The farmer responded, "maybe." A couple of weeks later, the farmer's son was thrown from one of the still wild horses that he was trying to break. Upon hearing the news, the farmer's neighbors remarked, "what bad luck!" The farmer responded, "maybe."

A few days later, a warlord impressed all of the able bodied young men in the village to fight a rival warlord. The farmer's son could not go, as his leg was broken. Upon hearing the news, the farmer's neighbors remarked, "what good luck!"

The farmer replied, "maybe."

There is a duality to life. It is impossible for me to declare that any singular event is wholly good, or wholly bad, because that moment is inextricably intertwined with all past and future events. Taoism is all about acceptance and the holistic approach to life. Simply put, I can believe in Christianity and Taoism, and not be hypocritical.

Indeed, Christ was arrested, unfairly tried and convicted, beaten, ridiculed in the streets, and finally crucified. Of course, what happened next is much better for all of us. So, Christ's tribulations is an example of the duality of existence.

Any ways, I just wanted to share that with all of you.