I will let you figure out the mussar haskel.
Since you're out in "the world" more these days, I'll share with you a ma'aseh Rav Reisman said last night in his navi shiur bi'shem a Rav Brown a"h, not because you need it but because it's good to share ma'aselech...
There was a simple Jewish farmer in Europe who had two horses. He would give wagon rides with the horses and make parnasah. One night he put them in stable for the night and a thief came to steal them. Now the thief couldn’t take both horses at the same time so he took the first and then came back for second. While he was taking the second, the farmer heard a noise coming from outside and started to head towards the barn. Realizing that he had nowhere to run and that he was cornered, the thief went into the stable where the first horse had been and got down on his hands and knees. The farmer walked over to the stable and the thief stood up and said to this simple Yid: ‘Shalom. My name is Yankel and you see, because of the actions of my previous life the Aibishter decided that I had to come back as a horse. Tonight, believe it or not, G-d said the gilgul was over and I turned back into a person.' The farmer could not believe the open miracle that he was witnessing before his very eyes. The farmer said: ‘Yankel, I thank you for all the years you worked for me and all that you have done,’ he even gave him some money, and sent him on his way. The next morning the farmer woke up and told everyone about the miracle he witnessed. After davening he realized he has to buy another horse and so he went to the market to see if he could find another horse for his business. He comes up to a horse, and well, it kind of looks likes his horse –the same nick on the left ear, and the bruise on the side, and the discoloration on the back. Suddenly he realizes that this is his horse! Puzzled he looks at the horse and says: ‘Yankel! You’re out in the world one day and shuv veiter a ferd, you’re back to being a horse?!’
:-)
