Page 19 - G-Gold to Lead

COSMOS EXPLAINS GOLD TO LEAD
Acceptance of guidance, rather than focusing on past mistakes, failures or fears is the lesson for this story. If you are a typical young person, you have heard your frustrated parents or teachers’ say, “If you would just try” or “You can do it if you practice.” People think of this as a normal interaction between parent and child. And it is, because of the limited and frequently irrational thinking of children.
We hope that you will learn to accept life as it really is and not hope that by some magical event, you will be successful. You must realize that setting goals, evaluating alternatives and working hard are all part of learning how to be a success. You should also understand that adults are supposed to guide you through this process.
The main character of the story, the “Young Man,” is quite unhappy. His unhappiness appears to stem from typical life difficulties. He lives deep in the woods in an uncomfortable cabin. Food is difficult to come by and his hunting trip is a failure. He wants to move to town but he has no skills or ways to earn money. His children have few toys and fewer friends.
After rescuing an old man from drowning, he is given the Old Man’s “Most valuable possession.” It is very heavy for being fairly small and the Young Man assumes it is a block of gold. He imagines that all of his troubles are now over and that all the things he has been wishing for will “Magically” happen.
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