You Find What You Seek...

     I heard this story a few weeks ago, and it resonated with me in such a powerful way.

     I searched for it, not knowing the title or its author, but just those key words of "Traveler" and "Farmer". But alas, I found what I was seeking.

     And as I found this story, I found myself reading it aloud. This is the type of story that I want to read aloud to my children, to your children, to so many others.

     I've just rediscovered...

     That what you look for...you'll find.

     And,

     Wherever you go...there you are.

Photo Credit: Evan Kaufmann

The Two Travelers and the Farmer:

A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. Eager to rest his feet, the wanderer hailed the countryman, who seemed happy enough to straighten his back and talk for a moment. "What sort of people live in the next town?" asked the stranger. 

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer, answering the question with another question. 

"They were a bad lot. Troublemakers all, and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world, and not a one of them to be trusted. I'm happy to be leaving the scoundrels." 

"Is that so?" replied the old farmer. "Well, I'm afraid that you'll find the same sort in the next town.

Disappointed, the traveler trudged on his way, and the farmer returned to his work. 

Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, hailed the farmer, and they stopped to talk. "What sort of people live in the next town?" he asked. 

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer once again. 

"They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I'm sorry to be leaving them." 

"Fear not," said the farmer. "You'll find the same sort in the next town."


-A Tale from North America