During a momentous
battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly
outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with
doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After
praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, “I shall now toss
this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If tails, we shall lose. Destiny will
now reveal itself.”
He threw the coin into
the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were
so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy
and were victorious. After the battle, a lieutenant remarked to the general,
“No one can change destiny.”
“Quite right,” the
general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both
sides.
