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.
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