A Picture Of Peace
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would
paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King
looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked
and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for
peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue
sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that
it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and
bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which
lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming
waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King
looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack
in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There,
in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her
nest... perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize?
The King chose the second picture. Do you know why? "Because,"
explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where
there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the
midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is
the real meaning of peace."
~ Author Unknown ~
