The Obstacle in Our Path

[Veracity]

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear. But none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

[SimpleSimon]

I've been digging in the archives. There's some good stuff in here, if you take the time to dig it out, and read it.

That said, let me explain why I am topping this post from someone who was gone before I registered here. The story related herein speaks to me on many levels. My life's road has been one long series of obstacles, and I cannot tell you how many I have pushed from the path. Some had purses of gold, and precious jewels under them, some released pockets of poison, but the effort was nearly always worthwhile.

I am pushing at a deeply embedded one now, and the effort has been agonizing. It is finally beginning to rock, and I know now that I can move it. I am asking myself - do I really want to? Do I need to? Might I be better off to walk around this one and move on down the road?

It feels like I can hear Julie's voice from under the boulder saying, "Keep pushing!"

It frightens me.

[Koliedrus]

That particular boulder, Simon, will create a pothole that has just as much potential to cause damage when it's removed as if you were to leave part of it in place.

It might be better to chip away the part you can see so that the road is level and let the rest remain buried. That part of the road will be stronger for those travelling behind you. You've already bugun shaping the top half into a grand memorial for those who come this way.

"Keep pushing" the top half to the side of the road. Sculpt.

[MAC]

I will mention this..

simon you forgot about the king.

he put the boulder in the road, and he is watching to see who feels the need to move it

The rich merchants walk around the boulder because they refuse to acknowledge anything affects their world. They simply look at it and say "I could move it, but why bother, thats someone else's task" meanwhile they carry on their lives with a fortune but no real task that affects ANYONE ELSE unless it benefits their pocket book.
The poor peasant realises that everything he does DOES affect other ppl. So he accepts his task. It will benefit the next man regardless of his status.

The king knows that this dedication and understanding exists in his ppl but he needs to see it every so often to remind him where his duty lies.

Don't think you are pushing that boulder for yourself
you just got to it first.
Whatever you do, your decision and action affects those who tread after you.

[ms. bing]

boulders, purses, kings and peasants....
HMMMM...
im dealing with my own few boulders right now. one is very tempting to leave alone and walk away from. but im a curious person...
purse of gold? pocket of poison? am i strong enough to withstand the poison if it comes puffing out in a huge cloud? will it envelope everything around me, obscuring my view?
how will i ever know if i dont move it?
and for that matter, isnt this what life is supposed to be about, assuming im on the right path to begin with? (which i believe i am)
as much as i would like to believe im capable of walking away, and as much as i believe sometimes that im incapable of moving it, i know im far more incapable of leaving it alone.
*sigh*
ive just gotta see....

[Solstice_Gray]

For moving boulders many great things have changed in my life. Many things have torn me down from the poison under those boulders, some I am still choking on, every day, until I die. Some of those boulders have taken my entire life to move, other only seconds. All have been worth it in some way or another. If not good at the time, good because they have taught me to be glad for what I have and that I am lucky to at least have something. Those boulders are worth moving, at least for me.

[Escape Artist]

I haven't done too badly with mine, I think, especially considering the lack of any large boards to use as levers since day 1 of this god-awful trip down teh road. Odds are, if I encounter any more I'll just use a large quantity of semtex cubes to reduce it to lots of dust and a memory.