Life is about activity. However, when we shove aside away all the screens and props, the expectations and scripts, it ends up being primarily about the condition of the heart. Ultimately, we are at peace or not. The early church father, St. Ignatius of Antioch (35-108 AD) had it right: "He who carries God in his heart, bears heaven with him wherever he goes."
I've heard this story before, but ran across it again online today and thought it worth repeating...
There was once 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 so he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for the peaceful, towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture 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, in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the King looked closely, 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 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."
(Photo credits to wildlifewalking.wordpress.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment