“On Dealing With Good Fortune” [Sun Tsu #7-19 & 20] (Luke 6:26; Matt.19:16ff; Prov.6&7)

Good fortune smiles, it does indeed,
On all of us, which meets our need
For some success when failure rains
On our parade – each day the same.

How fast one’s mem’ry fades to good –
“I’m great – at last you’ve understood!”
“You’re not as good as you make out!”
“You’re not so bad; without a doubt.”

Such wishful thought gives each a break –
Has no foundation – still we take
Such thoughts as gospel in the slime –
So quickly shift to “Life’s sublime!”

But now is when we’d best hold back –
Defense, once gone, leaves all attack
Beyond capacity to cope;
Worst stage of all? “Returning hope”.

It’s said, “Men won’t compete with chicks;
They’ll leave the field” – it’s not a trick –
They don’t give up – just elsewhere go;
Pursue him now, his wrath you’ll know.

For, other side of this? Advice –
“Shoot women first, when they’re not nice;
They get tenacious, way beyond
All reason, once their family’s gone”

Good fortune here? It’s not “retreat” –
But leaving you alone to eat
Your sustenance in peace – man’s fight
Is not with you – so hear him right.

Pursue, or follow, hunt him down,
And you will make him turn around –
“Fair game you are, now you’ve behaved
That way with me, you foolish maid.”

Of course, there’s trickery sometimes,
So don’t think all retreat sublime –
When others flee in false retreat,
“Deceptive ruse” can spell defeat.

So too when folks play up your strengths,
Play down their skills, their size of ranks;
If they’re crack troops, whose Ch’i is keen,
You’ll soon find what “Elite” can mean.

If you come on abandoned stores,
Be cautious, this can mean much more
Than your good fortune – “Booby” traps
Are named for you – don’t fall for that.

A minnow on a hook is “bait”,
So pause – you’re better off to wait;
To catch a dragon-size, one needs
Much bigger “Minnows”, “Ego-feeds”.

“Beware when all speak well of you”,
Christ Jesus quipped – he took the view
“Good Master” plays to “Ego-boost”,
So shut it down – sidestep that noose.

Temptation works that way of course –
Too late we see, then feel remorse;
Good fortune’s nice, but be prepared –
Life complex is – quite multi-layered.

Thanks Lord for this.

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