Author Unknown

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."