I met an old man one day as I was walking along the path.  He looked like he'd been through an awful lot during his lifetime and as I sat down to take a rest, I asked him if he could tell me anything about this path we found ourselves on.

"I'll tell you," he said, "what I've experienced as I've been walking this very path.  I started a long time ago.  I was young and full of life.  A lot like you, I think.  But I get the feeling you'll think this is a joke so maybe I should just let you find out on your own."

"But I won't..." I replied.  "I asked an honest question and I'd like an honest answer.  I'm just curious what's on the path ahead."

"Well," he sighed, "I can't rightly vouch for what's up ahead unless it's similar to what I passed through to get here."

I assured him that I would respect his story, and that it seemed reasonable to me that since he had more experience on this path, he was more likely to know what might be expected ahead.  Finally he continued.

"When I was young I struck out on my own.  I started walking on this very path.  It seemed to be going pretty well when I came up on a fork in the road, and there was an old man standing there.  'Which way do I go, Old Timer?' I asked him.  He pointed toward the right and said 'Go to the right young man.  It's a mighty fine life you'll find down there.  You go to the left and there's a 400 pound gorilla that'll jump out and kick your ass!'

I was incensed by his manner and his tone.  He didn't know anything about me.  I was young, strong, agile... did I mention young and strong?  Besides, it was ludicrous that there were any 400 pound gorillas in these parts.  I decided that he was just making a joke at my expense and I decided to go to the left and find out for myself.

He shook his head as I headed down the left fork.  I turned around just as I came to a bend and could still see him standing there shaking his head.  'What an old fool!' I thought to myself.

The path was level and winding, but pleasant.  And a while after the old man was out of sight the strangest thing happened.  A 400 pound gorilla jumped out from a wooded area and kicked my ass!

I couldn't believe it.  But it happened.  And I was sorely beaten.  I found a place where they would take me in while I recovered from my wounds and regained my strength.  When I was sufficiently recovered, I started out on the path again.

Once again it seemed to be going pretty well.  I was feeling good again and had just started to whistle a tune when I came up on another fork in the road, with another old man standing there.  'Which way do I go, Old Timer?' I asked him.  He pointed toward the right and said 'Go to the right young man.  It's a wonderful life you'll find if you go to the right.  If you go to the left, there's a 800 pound gorilla that'll jump out and kick your ass!'

I couldn't believe it!  Was this guy in cahoots with the other old man? And how could there be a gorilla larger than the one that had surprised me before.  That was it.  I'd been surprised.  Maybe this time if I just keep a sharper watch I'll be okay.  Besides, it was to incredible to believe that there were any 800 pound gorillas around here.  I decided that it was another joke at my expense and, decided to go to the left and find out for myself.  But I would be more careful this time.

As I started down the left path, the old man said, 'Didn't you hear what I said?  You can't fight that gorilla.  If you go down there you'll get beat real bad!'

'I know, I know...' I replied.  'I've heard it all before.  But what you don't know is that this time I'm prepared.'  The path was kind of rolling easily up and down small hills, but I was invigorated.  It felt good to be out on my own again.  After some time had passed I forgot about the warning.  But as an 800 pound gorilla jumped around from behind a rock I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  And that gorilla kicked my ass!

As before, I found a place where kind people would take me in and help me recover.  But unlike before, it took me a lot longer to recover.  My wounds were deep and my confidence had been shaken.  And I'd been humiliated.  How could I have been so foolish?  And as I lay there recovering I decided that what I'd do next time is find me a weapon to carry.  A big walking stick should be just the thing.

When I was finally well enough to begin my journey again, I thanked the people for their kindness and hospitality.  They packed me some food for the journey and helped me select a fine walking stick - one that would help keep my balance over difficult terrain, as well as serve as a weapon to protect myself should I ever have need again.

I had a slight limp after that, but I felt good with the wind on my face and the sun at my back.  I was reflecting on the previous events when I came up on a third fork in the road, with a third old man standing there.  'Which way do I go, Old Timer?' I asked him.  He pointed toward the right and said 'Heck, if I were you, I'd go to the right.  It's so nice down that way I sometimes wonder why I'm not there myself.  If you go to the left, there's a 1200 pound gorilla that's just waiting for someone's ass to kick!'

This was really beyond all comprehension.  There was no way that a 1200 pound gorilla could even exist.  It was a physical impossibility!  But the old guy seemed to be kind of spooked when he mentioned it.... 'Naw!  He's just superstitious.  I've been working out, I'm strong... I've got a bit of a limp, but I also have a great walking stick that's a great weapon if I need it to be.  This country can't just be full of bigger and bigger gorillas.'

So I started down the left path.  A little nervous, but confident just the same.  After all, I wasn't born just yesterday.

The path was flat and straight.  I began to feel foolish for being nervous in the first place.  It would be impossible for anything to jump out from behind a rock or a tree and surprise me.  I could see the horizon and it was straight and flat to at least that point.  I began to relax and even started to skip.  Not a real good skip because of my limp, but a skip just the same.  I thought, 'At last my troubles are behind me.'  Then, just as I had that thought I decided I'd check just to be sure.  That's when a hole opened up behind me, a 1200 pound gorilla popped out and proceeded to whip the tar out of me.

It took several years for me to recover from that whippin'.  I had broken bones and concussion.  They even told me that I'd had amnesia for a while after they found me.  I had to go through a lot of painful therapy, both physical and mental.  I had developed a severe case of the shakes whenever anyone came around me.  But over time I did get better.  And as I got better I remembered my resolve to see the world and be my own man.  I missed the open road.

I went on several day hikes over a period of months to build up my endurance and stamina - as well as to help me regain my lost courage.  And one day as I was returning from a day hike, I realized that I had to get out there again.  I had to finish my journey

So I made all the preparations I knew how to make and the day came when it was time for me to go.  The people I'd met were wonderful and there were teary good-byes all around.  But they knew I had to go and I did too.  So I started off on my journey.

I think I'd been out on the road for a few days without incident.  I had plenty of food and always found adequate shelter.  I'd even noticed some of the local wildlife from time to time and it was nice.  I thought about those gorillas more than once.

Well, one day I came up on a fork in the road.  I looked around but there was nobody there to tell me which way to go.  It was actually kind of disconcerting.  I really didn't know what to do.  Then, as I was standing there scratching my head, this kid walked up the path, looked both ways then looked at me and said...

'Which way do I go, Old Timer?'

The moral?  There's probably a lot of morals to this story.  I've embellished it a little to make it work better in print, but it's not original and I didn't make it up.  A friend shared it with me at a point in my life when I needed to hear it.  then I shared it with another friend at a point in his life when he needed to hear it.  But neither of us knew that the other needed to hear it when we told it.

I think maybe the moral is this:  "When the teacher is ready, the student appears."

I hope you've enjoyed it and that you'll pass it on when someone else needs it.