Above, within, and even though

Many years ago, an Italian painter was approached and asked to paint a picture encapsulating the meaning of "Peace".

No small task.

Undaunted, the painter uttered not a word at the weighty assignment handed to him, but ensconced himself in the rectory of the local church, seeking divine inspiration. For three years, he undertook to create the commission. To create the portrait of peace.

When at last emerging from his secluded artisans' roost, the painting he had crafted was unexpected. His vision of "peace" included a city in chaos overshadowed by mountains. The city streets were packed with people, their faces a mixture of angry, bitter, lost, sad, tired, and drawn. There was a war evident, with images of soldiers dying, burning buildings, guns bursting, and smoldering wreckage. Thunder clouds, thick smog, rain, and blustery wind peppered the devastated, pulsating, wrecked town.

The artist revealed his completed painting at an event attended by everyone in his village. The collective reaction from those who viewed the artwork was, quite predictably, not favorable. Some questioned whether the artist had understood the assignment, some wondered aloud if his skills were up to the task, and some openly mocked him and declared his work artistically bankrupt. This represents "peace"? Surely this artist is a crazy man.

Quietly, a small child approaches the large canvas. Staring silently at the painting for a few long minutes, she turns with tears in her eyes and walks to the artist. Spontaneously, she hugs him and says, "It is above, within, and even though. You have painted true peace."

In the midst of all this chaos, high above the cityscape, nestled in a mountain crevice, was painted a tiny child. Kneeling in prayer.

Peace is not found by looking around us and hoping for inspiration. If we are waiting for peace to come upon us in this manner, we will be in that line an awfully long time. Peace is found in a transformation of the heart, encountered by looking above to the Lord to transform our hearts within, causing us to know Truth. And that knowledge leads us to a reservoir of peace the surpasses all understanding, even though the heartbeat of the world works against us at every turn.

The artist became a phenomenon, his work heralded as glorious, a lesson in truth. For you see, PEACE was there all along. We just needed to seek it with the eyes of a child: above, within, and even though.