The Picture of Peace

It’s a story I’ve returned to several times in my life. I remember Dad telling it many years ago…

‘A rich powerful business-man wanted the perfect picture of peace – to bring a sense of calm to his stressful life. He couldn’t find exactly what he wanted, so he organised a competition. Many artists entered…’

What does peace look like? In Ukraine, in Gaza… on our streets, for our police force… in our communities, our schools, our homes?

‘There was an exhibition of the entries – many beautiful pictures – woodlands and streams, sheep grazing in fields, sunshine on hillsides, calm seas, empty beaches… each portraying peace…’

Many of us escape from life’s pace and pressures to peaceful places where there’s quiet and calm. Many friends have appreciated a local retreat house called ‘Quiet Waters’. Its website says: ‘Life is busy. Too busy. We all need time away to simply be. Resting, thinking… praying.’

‘One picture was different. Stormy black clouds produced lightening and pouring rain. A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a steep precipice. Huge rocks, hanging on precariously, looked as if they were about to be swept away…’

Although we might want peace, our experience of life is often of out-of-control storms that can sweep us away.

‘In the centre of the painting, in the middle of the waterfall, a small bird sits on its nest. Content and undisturbed she covers her little ones with her wings – knowing peace, bringing peace in the middle of the storm.’

This morning I read Psalm 55. David, betrayed by his best friend, is in a personal storm. I last told ‘The Picture of Peace’ story in the context of this psalm. We were thinking about broken relationships and broken hearts, and the resulting personal pain and emotional damage.

The picture, this psalm, reminds me, that even in the middle of life’s storms – particularly out-of-control relationships – we can know peace. As the old hymn says, the still small voice of calm speaks through – not instead of – the earthquake, wind and fire…