The Parable of the Obstacle in the Path

A large stone was placed in the middle of a well-traveled road. The first traveler, a wealthy merchant, came upon it and grumbled about the poor maintenance of the road before steering his cart around it. The second, a soldier, kicked the stone in frustration and continued on his way. Finally, a young farmer arrived, saw the stone, and thought, "This could cause harm to someone." He pushed with all his might until the stone rolled aside. Beneath it, he discovered a purse of gold coins left as a reward by the king for whoever removed the obstacle.

This story illustrates how different attitudes toward challenges lead to different outcomes. While others saw only an inconvenience, the farmer's willingness to address the problem directly resulted in unexpected reward.