|
|
|
|
|
| D I A N E o S |
D I S P A T C H |
November 2007
Dear Friends,I’ve been thinking about peace just lately - maybe its because this month we will be sharing in our Remembrance Day service - but I have been wondering just how ‘peace full’ our lives really are, especially when so many of us are caught up in the busyness, stress and activity of daily life. So I’ve got a question for you. What does peace look like? If you were asked to draw or paint a picture of peace- what would your picture depict? What would it look like? I recently heard a story of a king who was troubled by many worries in his life and so he offered a prize to anyone in his kingdom who could paint the best picture of peace for him. There were lots of people who painted pictures and it took the king a long time to view all the entries. However eventually after viewing all the pictures, the king narrowed his choice down to just two paintings. One was a bright painting of a beautiful calm and tranquil lake. It had stunning mountain scenery with a clear blue sky and white fluffy clouds. The other picture had mountains in it too, but they were rugged and imposing. The sky in this picture was not clear blue, but an angry grey one from which the rain fell and lightning flashed. Down one of the mountains there was a waterfall, which looked as though it contained a torrent of water which would roar and thunder as it crashed on the rocks below. So this second painting did not appear to look peaceful at all! But when the king took a closer look at it, he noticed that behind the waterfall in a crack in the rocks there was a tiny bush growing and there a bird had made a nest. There, in spite of the roar and noise of the rush of the water, the bird sat in peace on her nest. Which of the two paintings do you think won the prize? The king chose the second one because he said that the painting reminded him that to have peace you do not have to be in a place where there is no noise, activity or trouble. But to have peace means that it is possible to be in the midst of things and yet to be calm in your own heart, soul and inner being. This story reminds me of the words that Jesus spoke to his disciples just before he faced his death on the cross. He said to them “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John c14v27) Peace then is not an absence of storm, noise, danger or difficulty; but it is a gift of God. It is the assurance that God is with us to guide, help and comfort us and to bring us through the storms and tribulations of life. May you know the peace and the presence of God whatever situation you may find yourself in. It’s a peace that the world cannot give, It’s a peace that the world cannot understand; Peace to know, peace to live, My peace I give unto you. (Mission Praise No 477) Love Diane
|