The Meaning of Peace

There was once a king who offered a prize to the artist who could paint
the best picture of peace. Many artists tried.
The king looked at all the pictures, but there were only two that he
really liked, and 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 thought that it was
a perfect picture of peace.

The second 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.... a perfect picture of peace.

Which of the pictures 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."

That is the REAL meaning of peace.