This story was told to me by a very dear and special friend. May you find wisdom in its message!
Once upon a time there was a king of a grand and powerful kingdom. In his luxurious court he had many wise men and women who offered him counsel. Although he had great wealth, good health and all that he desired, he wanted to know the meaning of life. He commanded his wise people to tell him the meaning of life, but none could.
One day a humble elderly servant approached the king, saying he knew the meaning of life. The king became very excited and demanded to know. The servant said he would tell the king the meaning of life, but only under certain conditions. The king quickly agreed. The servant then said he would inscribe the words on the inside of a ring, but the king was not to read the inscription unless his life was in danger. The king readily agreed.
It came to pass a few years later, that the kingdom was attacked and the king was forced to flee for his life. As he fled the city on his trusty steed he was pursued by the enemy. The king had a head start on the enemy and road off toward the mountains. As he rode high into the mountains he came to a huge cliff with a gapping precipice and could go no further. As he sat there listening the hooves of the enemy, he remembered the ring. He quickly pulled the ring off his finger and read the inscription. It said, “This will pass.”
The king sat back in his saddle puzzled. Once more his attention was focused on the sound of the pounding hooves. To his surprise the sound seemed to be going away from him. His pursuers had lost his track and were heading of in another direction.
In the end the king’s army won the battle and the kingdom was restored. The king in deep gratitude made the humble servant his personal aide. In a short period of time the kingdom regained all of its former splendour and wealth. To celebrate the king ordered a grand parade with great shows of opulence and fanfare. As the king and his personal aide were riding through the streets of this rich kingdom, the aide turned to the king requesting that amidst this grandeur the king read again the inscription on the ring. The inscription read, “This will pass.”
Love and blessings,
Wawa Quilla
