A Parable

King Solomon had a servant, Baruch, head of his household, who could, seemingly, accomplish any task. Whatever orders he was given, he would see that they were done. His success made him somewhat arrogant, so the King set out to teach his servant a little humility. Before the entire court he told Baruch, "My faithful servant, this very night I have had a dream of a magic ring with the power to make sad men happy and happy men sad. I greatly desire this ring. Find it for me, that I may wear it at the festival one month from now." Baruch bowed and departed in search of this mysterious ring. After three weeks of searching over the whole country thereabouts with no success, Baruch ventured into the seediest market stalls in the city in hopes that some of the oldest residents might have heard of this ring. In the smallest and dirtiest shop, an old, toothless man said that he had indeed heard of this ring and believed he could procure it. For a price. He instructed Baruch to return in a week's time. On the very day of the festival, Baruch returned to the shop and the ancient jeweller handed him a small, beaten up ring. Baruch took it with a frown, but in an instant he smiled. This was indeed the magic ring. He paid the man handsomely and departed for the palace. Before all the people and the nobles, Solomon was prepared to humble his oprideful servant. "Baruch, have you found this ring I so desire", he asked, knowing full well that such a ring was but a product of his imkagination. "Yes, O King, your servant has obeyed. Behold the ring." Startled, the King took the tiny, battered band of silver. As he gazed upon it, he frowned and smiled and frowned again. Putting it on his finger, the wise man learned two things. First, be concerned only for your own humility. Second, the lesson of the ring. Upon it, the old man had inscribed three words. In Hebrew, "gam zeh ya'avor"-this too shall pass. Happiness may pass into sadness, mourning into joy. Wherever you find yourself, miserable or content, rest assured it will not always be so.