One night, a group of nomads were preparing to retire for the evening when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light. They knew 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 much pebbles as you can, put them in your saddle bags, travel a day's journey and tomorrow morning will find you glad and it will find you sad".
After the light departed the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected the revelation of a great universal truth that 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 made each one to pick a few pebbles and deposit them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.
They traveled a day's journey and that night while making camp, they reached into their saddle bags and discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a diamond.
They were glad they had diamonds, they were sad they had not gathered more pebbles.
