Peace can be elusive — like the butterfly. But have you ever thought about what peace looks like?
Following is a short story, originally shared by Rev. Jackie Holland, CSL Boise
There is fable about a king who wanted to experience Peace. He wanted to know what peace looked like, so he commissioned two artists to create the perfect picture of peace. The first one created a beautiful mountain landscape in which gorgeous trees towered over a lake. The lake’s waters were so calm, tranquil and
serene that they served as a mirror, perfectly reflecting the mountains, trees and sky all around it. Everyone looking at it said it was “the perfect picture of peace”.
The second artist created a painting of a raging waterfall that thundered and cascaded down a rocky precipice. The water pounded so hard on the rocks below it that a mist rose from it and trickled into dark ominous clouds that filled the sky. The tone of the entire painting was angry and violent. Looking more closely, one could see a tree with a gnarled branch standing at the side of the waterfall. On that branch was a tiny bird in a nest that was singing a beautiful song, even though it was within inches of the raging, torrential waterfall. The people were in awe and said, “Yes! That is the perfect picture of peace.”
So…which painting truly was the perfect picture of peace? I believe they both were.
True peace is being able to go through the storms without becoming part of them.
While our world seems to be in turmoil, let think about what peace looks like and emulate it in our lives!