#048 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 in perfect peace.



Which picture do you think won the prize? The King without hesitation 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.'






Comments

  1. Unknown20 March 2018 at 11:19

    I partially agree with the king. First because the meaning of peace is how you feel without thinking about the things that are around you and it happens in the second picture with a mother bird who built a nest in the middle of the disaster. But I think the king should had chosen the first picture because it makes me feel calmed and the second picture makes me feel distressed .

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  2. Anonymous22 March 2018 at 07:03

    Interesting point Judith, however what is harder? to try to be in peace in an easy or difficult situation? What you said about tranquility is true, moreover if we consider that we have to be in peace with ourselves first, it is tougher. Needless to say, the perfect peace is not to let any uncomfortable situation to make you feel bad and that takes a lot of time to learn, I'm in the process, how about yourself?

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  3. Unknown20 June 2018 at 15:51

    I realy like this short storie i can't believe it/imagen that makes me think the real meaning of peace may be the world tell me that I need it.I'm agree with the king about the meaning of peace but also I like the first painting because is very beautiful and for me there is no noise, trouble, or hard work but that is me form of think or see the world.But well...When someone is in peace,needs to forget everything and be calm so no stress.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10 July 2018 at 19:00

      Well, this story tells us about the real meaning of peace, we agree on the fact that both pictures have a beautiful message. On the one hand we have what we desire, a life without problems.
      On the other hand difficulties which enpower us whenever we overcome them which frankly I consider so profound to enrich the way of seeing life.

      Delete
  4. Unknown13 July 2018 at 14:52

    in my opinion the history is interesting and realist because not everything in world is harmonic and we have know we not must perturbation by chaotic, for it we must be patients and not impulsive , plasma peace in our life
    Adriana Salazar

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous26 July 2018 at 08:09

      Yes Adriana, we can't live without difficult times and harmony must be found not only in peaceful situations, but also in tough moments. Chaos is part of society nowadays but we have to learn to transform it and we are able to do it if we learn how to manage it.

      Delete

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