"Why do we have to learn all of this dumb stuff?"

One night a group of nomads were Preparing to retire for the evening when suddenly they were in the presence of a celestial being. With great anticipation they awaited a heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be especially for them. Finally the voice spoke, "Gather as many pebbles as you can put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day's journey and tomorrow night will find you glad and it will find you sad."

After having departed, the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected the revelation of a great Universal Truth which would enable them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But instead, they were given a menial task that made no sense to them at all.

However the memory of the brilliance of their Visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit them in the saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.

They travelled a day's journey and that night while resting in their camp they reached for their saddle bags and discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a diamond. They were glad they had diamonds. They were sad they hadn't gathered more pebbles .

Gather all the "pebbles" you can and you can count on a future filled with diamonds.