When we are pursuing our goals to improve our community we are confronted with many obstacles or should I say opportunities for development. They can cause us to lose our sense of direction and focus of our objectives and goals. Obstacles provide opportunities to develop and also high levels of stress within community boards and committees. Obstacles may mean we need to change our course slightly to adjust to that obstacle. It may also be telling us or the community that it needs a new approach or to explore new ideas and ways of effectively moving forward. Communities should not look at an obstacle as being negative, but look at it as a learning tool. Obstacles should encourage a community to be creative and foster exploration of their abilities and talents within. They will prepare a community for future setbacks. Obstacles will call upon the spirit, participation and determination of the community and its leadership. Obstacles are only temporary setbacks that have to be dealt with along the way.