A SLICE OF LIFE
Presented and Produced by Eugene Loh

The Obstacle

When faced with a challenge in life, do you bravely take it on in the belief that you will learn something from it or become a better person?

On the road of Life, when you come upon a barrier, do you try to remove it or overcome it, or do you simply go around it like everybody else?

Obstacles and barriers in Life are not there because they add to the scenery or because someone has a sick sense of humour. They are there for a real reason. And this reason eludes most unsuccessful, unhappy, and unfulfilled people.

Every adversity is an opportunity in disguise. If happiness and fulfillment were so easy to achieve, it would mean nothing.

A king once 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 big 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. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

By Eugene Loh
Author of story unknown