| This year |
| All years |
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. There, in
the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her
nest.... a picture of a perfect 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."
Author Unknown