A teacher of English language was giving a
dictation to the class. The students were asked to write down the words
dictated by the teacher. Those who write every letter correctly, without any
error in spelling would receive a prize. The teacher started the test by
announcing the first word – ‘peace’. The students began to write. A bright and
brilliant boy stood up and asked the teacher, “Madam, I know three words
pronounced similarly. Which of these should we write? The boy meant the similar
sounding words – ‘peace’, ‘piece’ and ‘peas’. The teacher forgot that a test
was in progress and tried to make her point very clear, “It is p-e-a-c-e peace” she announced. There
were roars of laughter.
During a painting competition in a school,
the students were asked to paint a picture on the theme, ‘peace’. Two paintings were selected from the entries for
identifying the final winner. The scrutinizing committee of experts examined the
two paintings critically. One painting portrayed beautiful scenery. There were
lofty mountains covered by luxuriant green vegetation and a calm lake with
still water reflecting with clarity the green mountains and the beautiful blue
sky with fluffy white clouds. Around the lake were shown green trees bearing
fine fruits and fantastic flowers. A pretty bird was enjoying a safe rest in a
nice nest on a tall tree with no disturbance. Every part of the pretty picture
portrayed perfect rest.
The second picture displayed barren mountains
and a wild and disturbed sky with dense black clouds and bright lightning
indicating a heavy thunderstorm. An angry waterfall was raging with a
torrential stream of foamy water on a rocky hillside. The trees had bent their
branches in response to the intense and violent wind. In a cleft in the huge
rock, a tiny tree was shown with a small nest on it. Within the nest a small
bird was seated, with a slightly opened beak, obviously singing a melodious
music, in a state of perfect peace though surrounded by the ferocious forces of
nature.
The experts examined the two pictures and awarded
the first prize to the second picture. Perfect peace is being calm in one’s heart
while in the midst of all unavoidable disturbances, troubles, hard work and noise.
Real peace is not the state of rest one may enjoy in serene and silent
surroundings without any disturbance or distractions. The peace of God will
keep us in peace in the tempests of life.
A popular
proverb in Malayalam, “Malakal ilakeedilum mahajanaanaam manamilakaa” may be
translated as:
“Mountains may move; but the minds of masterminds never waver.”
Peace
rules the day when God rules the heart.
………………………………………………………..
©
By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy,
Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science
& Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof.
Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's
College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's
Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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This
is Story No. 205 in this site. Another site for Christians is: http://christian.moral-stories.com Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in this site. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.
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