Inner peace

I think Charles Allen said it first. "When faced with problems which threaten to steal your peace of
mind learn the meaning of the word 'imperturbability.'"

I heard of two artists who were asked to illustrate
peace. Each was assigned the task of depicting a
peaceful scene on canvas.

The first artist drew a beautiful picture of a
countryside on a warm, spring day. A soft sun illumines
green grass and bathes a picturesque farm-house and
grazing cattle in its warmth. A farmer walks contentedly
behind strong plow horses preparing his field
for spring planting. The picture is one of beauty and
quiet tranquility.

The other artist took a different approach. He drew a
majestic, rugged cliff. Gnarled trees, twisted by years
of violent winds, jut from the craggy mountainside. Dark
clouds hang low and fierce while jagged streaks of
lightening slash across an angry sky. The picture is one
of violence, chaos and rage.

But as one looks closely, something else becomes
visible. There in one of the crevices of the rocky
mountain, tucked back just out of reach of the wind and
rain-a nest with two small birds.
Apparently unconcerned about the impending storm, they
appear calm, cozy and peaceful as they patiently wait
for the turbulence to pass.

And isn't that the way it so often is? We may want to be
surrounded by peace, but storms rage. Problems and
pressures without threaten to steal peace of mind within.

The answer is imperturbability: inner peace that doesn't
leave when circumstances change. It's a peace that is
greater than the problems of life, built on assurance
that the tempest will finally pass, that we will survive
the storm, that we may grow stronger because of it and,
in the meantime, we will not endure it alone.

Imperturbability-it's the result of a peace that
passes understanding. For serenity is not freedom from
the storm, but peace amid the storm.
(author unknown)

This message was edited Thursday, Apr 4th 12:15 PM

Wow!!! You put that into perspective beautifully!!

"eyes"

Baker Creek Seed Store, here in the ozarks, has a painting in their store that is like the second illustration. It is one I love/hate! It shows a mother and her children picniking next to a beautiful stream, sunlight, flowers, grass etc. Looming on one side is a polluted city. It is the most emotion producing painting I have seen in years. I think about it when I need to center my emotions such as in the last couple of years. A long prayer and that in my head helps me get a perspective. I think that is why God gives the gift of Art to people.

GW and OS, I would love to have either one of those paintings in my house. I wonder where I can get them....

Granny Lois, I don't know if it is for sale. It hangs in the Front part of Bakers Creek Seed store. Maybe you could email them and see if there are prints. There is an email address in their on line catalog. The address is rareseeds.com.

wow u are so right,,,,,,,I sometimes love to hear a storm
and hear the rain and feel so peaceful and other time's the warm of the morning sun makes me feel all is well
in the world,,,,,we have 4 seasons here and as each one leaves an another one comes in,,i feel joy and peace
within an as each new day approches, I say a quiet
thankyou for one more day to be allowed to walk in my
garden

Instead of a tempest in a teapot, I guess this would suggest a teapot in a tempest, still intact after the storm passes.

Thanks, Ozarksue, I emailed them.

thank you greenwood. a great way to start my day.
debi z

OzarkSue, I got email back from the store saying that that picture is an original and one-of-a-kind. No copies have been made. They thanked me for the interest. Oh well.

nana that was a beautiful post to a beautiful thread!!

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