In ancient times, there was a king who decided to place a boulder on a major roadway and proceeded to hide himself nearby. He watched as people passed by, navigating around it and hurrying on with their day. Some walked around it, some chose to climb over it, some complained that the king should do a better job of keeping the roads clear, but none did anything to help get the boulder out of the way. 

The king was getting disheartened, becoming disappointed with the entitled ways of his people. Just then, a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables that he was delivering home to his family. He noticed the boulder, and though he was in a hurry, he couldn’t help but think what an inconvenience and even danger this boulder must be to his fellow citizens. So, he put down his sack of vegetables and worked to remove the boulder. It wasn’t easy. He had to summon all the strength he had to get that boulder out of the road, but he finally did it. 

When he went back for his vegetables next to where the boulder had been, he found a note with a purse containing many gold coins. These items had been resting beneath the rock the whole time, and the note explained that they belonged to whoever successfully removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant was at once a wealthy man.

Moral of the story: If we face them head on, the obstacles we encounter can lead to our greatest gifts. Thinking of what you can do for others, instead of only for yourself, life’s opportunities and riches will appear for you.