Once upon a time, there was a rich, old miserly man who was in need of moving from the town into the city. Being a man who could trust no one, he strapped on money belt after money belt and carrying his entire wealth prepared for his journey. He loaded all his worldly belongs of rich silk and gold onto his cart and started off. The day was young and the rich man naturally took the high road on the mountain as the high road was reserved for Kings and Princes. He was certain he would not run afoul of brigands on the High road. About mid-day the miserly old man came across a portion of road that had been damaged by recent heavy rainfall. In his arrogance, and ignorance he urged his horse and cart forward, trusting that the servants of the Kings and Princes would have made the road secure. Alas the servants had not the time to secure the road, and the rich old miser fell to his death, to the road below when the insecure High road collapsed beneath him.

Now it just so happened that a poor blind beggar man was riding his mule to the city on this same day. He of course was taking the low road not being able to pay the tolls of the High road. He was on his way to the city, because he new he could beg there and ultimately be supported by the generosity of more people. He had set off several hours after the rich man, and eventually came to the part of the road that was blocked by the rich mans dead body, and all of his rich belongings of silk and gold that had fallen out of his broken cart. Of course the blind man could not see this, and was perplexed as to why his mule would not continue. Try as he might to make the mule move he could not… he drove his heals deep into the mule’s side, the willow switch he had cut was smacked across the mule’s backside yet the mule would never walk over the dead man. In his frustration and not knowing what to do, the beggar man simply kicked and whipped the beast all the more to try to get it to move. Eventually in his agony and frustration, the mule reared up and attempting to go around the dead rich man also slipped on the weakened road, from the recent floods, to its death; taking the poor blind beggar man with him.

You have heard this story (or versions of it) many times I’m sure and the messages of this story are many. You will have gotten the exact message that you need right now from it I am sure, but I want to make sure you hear this message from the story; sometimes it is the ass that knows what is best, and we should listen to him. Not all obstacles in our path are hindrances, some are blessings.

Love and Bright blessings ~ Richard