This morning, as much of the world is in shock at Donald Trump’s unexpected win of the 2016 Presidential election, I find myself thinking of a Zen Buddhist story I learned many years ago:

A farmer who used a horse to help him plow his fields discovered one morning that his horse had run away. His neighbors were very sympathetic. “Oh! That’s too bad!” they cried.

“Maybe…” said the farmer.

The next morning, the horse came back, followed by three other wild horses. “Look at that!” the neighbors cried. “You’ve got more, now! That’s great!”

“Maybe…” said the farmer.

The following day, as he was riding one of the wild horses, the farmer’s son got bucked off the horse and broke his leg. Once more, the neighbors gathered in support and sympathy. “Oh, what a shame!” they cried.

“Maybe…” said the farmer.

The next day, military officials arrived from the big city announcing that they were drafting all young men into the army. Seeing the son’s broken leg, the officials passed on, excused the son from duty. “What great luck!” the neighbors cried. “That’s terrific that your son can remain at home!”

“Maybe…” said the farmer.

At the core of every event is a center that is constant. That center is alive in you. It is the truest thing about you. The task is to find it.