THE PAINTING ON THE WALL

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

THE PAINTING ON THE WALL

THE PAINTING ON THE

WALL There

was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists from

all over his country and gave them valuable gifts. One day an artist

came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank wall in your

palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more beautiful than

anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall not be

disappointed." Now,the

king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end of the

palace. So he said, "Alright you may work on one of the walls in the

new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very pleased

indeed. Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to

work on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What

would you like to make?" The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly

what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do

so,without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a

thick curtain put up between the two walls so that either of us can not

seethe other." Now,

that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court, including the

king and the first artist were intrigued. But the king loved surprise

sand he decided to give the young fellow a chance. The

following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists

got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint,

oil, water etc. The second one would some with a cloth and a bucket of

water every day. After a month the first artist told the king that his

work was complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king

sent for the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your

work be ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man

said, "My Lord, my wall is ready too!" The

king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very impressed

with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the artist. He

then asked for the curtain to be opened up. Lo and behold! The same

painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true!

Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall.

But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side

of the curtain. So how had he done it? The

king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the fellow.

Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your work. But

you must tell me; how did you do it?" The lad said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every day!" It

was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till it shone

like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the room, showed

up in it! That

is what it means to polish your self. For when we polish our hearts and

souls we see God's reflection within. It is said that the world is a

reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to be that

too. If you are happy, the world will look to be happy. If you are sad;

jealous; dejected; angry; restless ... that is what the world will seem

to be to you!