This Too Shall Pass Press
The First Real Book About Trivia Contests was published by This Too Shall Pass Press in 1974, produced with state of the art desktop publishing technology – the IBM Selectric Typewriter. Current publications are Welcome to Chelm’s Pond, Stories We Tell, and A Rabbi, a Prophet, and a King Walk into a Bar. For more information write to sschuman@tothestory.com.
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The Story
King Solomon was distracted, unable to concentrate. His faithful advisor and general, Benaiah, noticed and asked what was wrong. The king confided in him. “At times, when I make a wise decision I feel good, but I am concerned that it will go to my head, that I will feel too self confident and then my decisions will be foolish. At other times, when I make decisions that are not so wise, I despair, and my confidence is shaken. When that happens, my wisdom is diminished. What can I do to prevent these changes in mood that can impair my judgment?”
Benaiah sought to help King Solomon. “I will consult with the people throughout the kingdom and collect all of their wisdom to advise you what to do.” This Benaiah did, talking with people and recording their wisdom to provide an antidote to the king’s worries. After a year had passed, he reviewed his many writings, sifting through and trying to find the words of wisdom that would help his king, but to no avail. While all of the sayings were wise, none were adequate to provide the remedy. Forlorn, Benaiah made his way back to the palace. He had failed in his task; he was unable to keep his promise to help the king. How could he ever again hold his head high in King Solomon’s presence.
As he considered his unhappy position, he heard the wind whispering, “This too shall pass. This too shall pass.” The wind’s whisper made him feel better, knowing that however bad he felt now, indeed, in time his situation would improve. Suddenly, he had the answer! That was the wisdom he could convey to the king that would make him feel better in his times of distress. Elated, he held his head high and quickened his pace. Then he heard the wind whisper again, “This too shall pass. This too shall pass.” And he realized that his high spirits were also fleeting, that in time they would be tempered. He felt the wisdom of the wind and entered the palace in a more restrained mood.
“My king,” he began, “I have searched the kingdom for wisdom and only now have I heard it from the wind. Whenever you feel too happy or self confident, and whenever you feel too sad or self doubting, you only need to recall the words of the wind, “This too shall pass.’”
King Solomon found these words wise indeed. He had a ring made, which he wore always, with these words inscribed to remind him always of the wisdom of the wind: This too shall pass.
This Too Shall Pass Press
Albany, New York
sschuman@tothestory.com
