Obstacles in our Path

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. On 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. As 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 others never understand.

 

Lesson To be Learned:

 

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

 

Inspring Anecdotes Ⅰ— "I Can Make It Happen"

History abounds with tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas, plans, and projects of others could never be achieved. However, accomplishment came to those who said, “I can make it happen.”

The Italian sculptor Agostino d’Antonio worked diligently on a large piece of marble. Unable to produce his desired masterpiece, he lamented, “I can do nothing with it.” Other sculptors also worked this difficult piece of marble, but to no avail. Michelangelo discovered the stone and visualized the possibilities in it. His “I-can-make-it-happen” attitude resulted in one of the world’s masterpieces — David.

The experts of Spain concluded that Columbus’s plans to discover a new and shorter route to the West Indies was virtually impossible. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand ignored the report of the experts. “I can make it happen,” Columbus persisted. And he did. Everyone knew the world was flat, but not Columbus. The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria, along with Columbus and his small band of followers, sailed to “impossible” new lands and thriving resources.

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谁杀了我的牛??

  很久以前,有一个经验丰富而睿智的老师想要向他的一个学生传授获得成功并且快乐生活的秘诀。

  为了教授这门重要的课程,他决定带着他的学生长途跋涉,去一个最贫穷的山村看一看。最后他们到达了一个前不着村后不着店的小村子,在这里两个人看到了一个最为矮小、最为破旧的房子。

  这个随时都可能坍塌的小窝棚,坐落在整个村落的最边缘。毫无疑问,它的主人肯定是村里最贫困的人了。当师生二人走进屋里,立即被眼前狭小的空间震呆了——不足14平方米的地方,竟然住了一个8口之家。在如此局促的条件下,父亲、母亲、4个孩子,还有祖父母,都尽自己最大的努力给彼此多腾出哪怕是一点点的空间。

  可当他们走出这间房子的时候,他们发现自己错了。这个家庭拥有一件最不寻常的财产——在这样的境况下显得尤为不寻常的财产——一头奶牛。而且,这头奶牛似乎还有一个更为重大的价值:它是使这一家人不至陷入赤贫的唯一理由。在这样一个荒凉贫瘠的地方,拥有如此高价值的资产,足以博得全村人的尊重。

  这位年轻学生并不清楚导致这个家庭落入此凄惨现状的原因。他们为何落魄到这个地步?是什么使他们忍受一切却不思进取呢?

  老师慢慢地朝那头奶牛走去,缓缓地从随身携带的刀鞘中拔出一把匕首。当老师举起胳膊时,学生看到了令他难以置信的一幕:老师迅速将手里的匕首刺入那头母牛的喉咙。这致命的一击,让那只可怜的牲口瘫倒在地。

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