In Journey to Ixtlan, the story of the magical deer is told. The young man refuses the magical deer for gourds, suspecting something more valuable in them. When he finds they are not necessarily valuable - not quite like the magical deer - he throws them down. In both instances, he made the mistake in throwing away gifts.
Some people are on the path seeking great gains, or perhaps the wrong things to begin with. When they do not get what they are looking for, they throw it all away. They are cracked gourds who cannot sustain the pressure. The path is always offering gifts. They may not always be what you are seeking, but they are just what you need. Nonetheless, these gifts should be accepted as priceless, and with grace.
We should never abandon the path for any reason. To go back to the world of ordinary men is a mistake. They are never satisfied with the way things are. We cannot be like Cypher in The Matrix who turns away a good and real path for an imaginary steak. A false path can only lead to false gains. You know you are on the right path when it is difficult and challenging. Yes you should still love it. It should bring you joy. But it should be full of challenges so you can grow and evolve.
So if you get a gift, say "thank you" for it. If you don't see its value right away, just give it time. Given the chance and during the right circumstances it will become a treasure which will lead to greater things for you.
