contents - AMORC

32
Contributed by Louise Lane, SRC
FARMER, WHO OWNED LAND ALONG
a particular part of the coast that had a
reputation for fierce and unpredictable
weather, was constantly advertising
for hired hands. Many were reluctant
to work on his farm since they dreaded the awful
storms that raged across the sea, wreaking havoc
to the buildings and crops, and making working
there arduous at the best of times.
Predictably, as the farmer was interviewing
applicants for the job, he received a steady stream
of refusals once he had outlined the position to
them. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle
age, approached the farmer; “Are you a good farm
hand?” the farmer asked him. “well, I can sleep
when the wind blows” answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, and since the
man was willing to accept the job despite the
conditions, the farmer, desperate for help, hired
him. The little man worked well around the
farm, busy from dawn to dusk and the farmer felt
satisfied with his work.
Then one night the wind began to howling
in from the sea. As it gained momentum the
farmer jumped out of bed and grabbing a lantern,
The Rosicrucian Beacon -- September 2006
rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping
quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get
up quickly! A storm is coming! Tie things down before
they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed
and said firmly, “There’s no need. I told you, I can
sleep when the wind blows?”
Enraged by this response, the farmer was
tempted to throw him out on the spot but there
was no time, so he hurried outside to prepare for
the storm. To his amazement he found that all of
the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins,
the cows were in the barn, the chickens were in
the coops and the doors were barred. The shutters
were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.
Nothing could blow away.
It then dawned on the farmer what his hired
hand had meant with his intriguing statement, so
he returned to his bed to also sleep while the
wind blew.
One word sums up the subject of this
tale and that is preparedness. Being prepared
spiritually, mentally and physically, allows us to
meet all of life’s adversities with nothing to fear.
Can you sleep when the wind blows through
your life?