YearsagoafarmerownedlandalongtheAtlanticseacoast.Heconstantlyadvertisedforhiredhands.MostpeoplewerereluctanttoworkonfarmsalongtheAtlantic.TheydreadedtheawfulstormsthatragedacrosstheAtlantic,wreakinghavoconthebuildingsandcrops.Asthefarmerinterviewedapplicantsforthejob,hereceivedasteadystreamofrefusals.
Finally,ashort,thinman,wellpastmiddleage,approachedthefarmer.“Areyouagoodfarmhand?”thefarmeraskedhim.
“Well,Icansleepwhenthewindblows,”answeredthelittleman.
Althoughpuzzledbythisanswer,thefarmer,desperateforhelp,hiredhim.Thelittlemanworkedwellaroundthefarm,busyfromdawntodusk,andthefarmerfeltsatisfiedwiththemanswork.
Thenonenightthewindhowledloudlyinfromoffshore.Jumpingoutofbed,thefarmergrabbedalanternandrushednextdoortothehiredhandssleepingquarters.Heshookthelittlemanandyelled,“Getup!Astormiscoming!Tiethingsdownbeforetheyblowaway!”
Thelittlemanrolledoverinbedandsaidfirmly,“Nosir.Itoldyou,Icansleepwhenthewindblows.”
Enragedbytheresponse,thefarmerwastemptedtofirehimonthespot.Instead,hehurriedoutsidetoprepareforthestorm.Tohisamazement,hediscoveredthatallofthehaystackshadbeencoveredwithtarpaulins.Thecowswereinthebarn,thechickenswereinthecoops,andthedoorswerebarred.Theshuttersweretightlysecured.Everythingwastieddown.Nothingcouldblowaway.
Thefarmerthenunderstoodwhathishiredhandmeant,sohereturnedtohisbedtoalsosleepwhilethewindblew.
MORAL:Whenyoureprepared,spiritually,mentally,andphysically,youhavenothingtofear.