ROCKS

Matt Dillon advised his young, newly appointed deputy not to take the short cut. However, the inexperienced cowboy was eager to catch the bad guy. So paying no attention to Matt, he took off across the unfamiliar path. Matt warned of the rocks, and possibility he may be riding into an ambush. The young man didn't listen. A few minutes later we witnessed the young man lying on the ground, thrown from his horse who had slipped on the rocks.
I can't tell you how many times I've taken that path. Only to be thrown from my horse, landing on the rocks. Of course, you realize I wasn't really riding a horse, but life itself.
So many times I haven't listened to the voice of experience, telling me to take the path more recognized. 
It's also like walking on a tread-mill. It's safe, but you aren't really going anywhere. How do you really know which path to follow? The shorter one, with all the rocks, or the longer one which seems safer? I guess we need a few rocks in our path though. That's the way I've learned many valuable lessons. Learning how to keep my balance while walking across those rocks.
What kind of "rocks" have you encountered? And how did you manage? Did you fall off the horse, or did you make it?
I would love to hear from you.