Sleeping Through The Storm
Years ago, a farmer who owned much land needed help, and constantly advertised for hired hands.
But many people were reluctant to work on the farm. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the country from time to time, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops, and endangering their lives.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a young man approached the farmer.
"Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep through the storm," answered the young man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The young man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the young man's work.
Several weeks passed. Then suddenly one night, a powerful storm rips through the valley. Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the farmer leaps out of bed. He quickly pulled on his clothes and went to the young man's room to wake him up, so that together they could put the farm in shape for the storm.
Pound as he might on the door, there was no response.
Angry and frustrated, the farmer was tempted to fire the young man on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.
To his amazement, he discovered 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.
He raced to the silo. The doors were latched and the grain was dry. The tractor was indoors. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away.
As the farmer returned to bed after his unnecessary trip around the farm in the rain, he finally understands. ‘He sleeps through a storm.’ The young man did his work so well, and so thoroughly, that he did not need to worry in the time of storm. He knew that he was prepared for everything.
The young man was able to sleep soundly because he had secured the farm against the storm. If we live our lives the same way, the storm will never bother us, because we will be ready for it.
When you're prepared, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep soundly when the storm blows through your life?
.....
CONVERSATION