The scorching sun offered no relief to the traveler walking
down an obscure path leading through the dense woods.
He wandered aimlessly not knowing that Fate followed close
behind. The traveler’s attention was on his destination.
He brushed Fate aside by ignoring the message from the
woodpecker who tapped out, “Beware Fate is close at hand.”
The traveler sought his fortune certain that his
maps were a better guide. He trusted his telescope to
see his path and walked for several miles ignoring
Fate. He whistled his songs and at one point turned
to face her. He chased her away shouting,
“I am the master of my own destiny!”
The traveler walked until sunset and in the diminishing
light knew he was too tired to go on. He finally rested
along the side of the road.
Without the warmth of a fire or pleasant company the
weary traveler fell into a fitful sleep. In the dark
he didn’t realize he was on the edge of a steep embankment.
Fate discovered him in this precarious position.
"This fool could easily roll off the side of this road
and die. Some would say I did it. I do not like to
be unjustly accused of things I did not do, so I will
make sure that doesn’t happen to me."
With those words Fate pushed the man and he rolled off
the embankment and down the perilous cliff. As Fate
would have it, the traveler didn’t hit his head, he
didn’t break his bones but he tumbled and tumbled
until he reached the bottom where he lay dazed but
uninjured.
The startled traveler woke up among the rocks at
the bottom of a canyon. He wondered if
anyone would ever find him. His maps were torn and
his telescope crushed. He felt afraid and hopeless.
Sitting alone in the darkness he finally heard
Fate's voice and words. "You must find your way
back to your path." Then she pointed to something
sparkling in the moonlight. It was partially
hidden by fallen leaves.
He cleared the debris to discover a ring with a
beautiful diamond the size of an acorn.
He took the treasure and carefully placed it in
his pocket then found a way back up the side of
the precipice. He climbed all night before he located
his original path and headed toward the next town.
When he arrived the sun was already overhead.
The townspeople gathered around. He told his
tale and showed them his precious jewel. He praised
Fate for his good fortune and the two traveled
together the rest of his days.
Moral of the Story: Sometimes Fate must
shove you off an embankment for you to find
your fortune.
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