Incomplete Plans

A man was known among his friends for planning everything carefully. Before taking any step, he would think ahead, weigh every possibility, and prepare for every outcome. Yet, despite all his effort, things often did not go as he had planned. This troubled him deeply.

One afternoon, he came to Sai Baba and sat before him.

“Baba,” he said, “I try to do everything properly. I think, I plan, I prepare… but still things go differently. Why does this happen?”

Baba listened without interrupting. After a while, he pointed to the courtyard where a few dry leaves had fallen.

“Bring those leaves,” he said.

The man gathered them and returned.

“Now arrange them neatly,” Baba said.

The man carefully placed them in a small pile, adjusting each one until it looked orderly. Just then, a light breeze passed through the courtyard. In a moment, the leaves scattered again. The man looked at them helplessly. Baba smiled gently.

“You arranged them well,” he said.

“But could you hold the wind?”

The man remained silent. For the first time, he saw the limit of his effort. From that day, he did not stop planning. But he stopped expecting life to follow his plans exactly.

Moral

Effort is ours, but outcomes are not.

Do what you can with care. Let the rest unfold as it must.