"Good News, Bad News"

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This is an old story that's been around for centuries, but we first heard it at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in a sermon John Claypool preached in November 2001:

The Chinese tell the story of an old man who owned a bony plow horse. One spring afternoon the horse ran away. The old man's friends, trying to console him, said, "We're so sorry about your horse, old man. What a misfortune you've had." But the old man said, "Bad news, good news - who's to say?"

A few days later the horse returned home leading a herd of wild horses. Again the friends came running. Filled with jubilation, they cried, "How wonderful!" But the old man whispered, "Good news, bad news - who's to say?"

Then the next day, when the farmer's son was trying to ride one of the new horses, the young man was thrown to the ground and broke both legs. The friends gasped. The old man stood still and said, "Bad news, good news - who's to say?"

And a short time later when the village went to war and all the young men were drafted to fight, the farmer's son was excused because of two broken legs. Good news. Bad news. Who's to say?



One tries to believe that "in everything that happens God is trying to bring about some good." (Romans 8:28)


It ain't over till it's over. (Yogi Berra)


It's not over until the fat lady sings. (refers to end of Wagner's 14 hr opera Der Ring des Nibelungen)