eRipples: a free weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.51 [Monday, December 18, 2000]
PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When life is difficult
it acquires a higher value.
-Edward Abbey, written above the desert exhibit at the North Carolina
Zoological Park
BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Meaning of Peace
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 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. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat a
mother bird on her nest . . . a picture of 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."
-unknown, submitted by: Angela DiVito, Central Michigan University
PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Are you waiting for it to get easier? It probably will get easier at some point. It is definitely going to get more difficult at some other point. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and gently remind yourself that you CAN handle it. You can.
I believe in you!
Peace,
Paul
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