集美貌与智慧于一身的人不计其数、富裕之人随处可见、名望之人也不在少数。但是内心平静--是上帝对他的眷顾者的恩赐，是对他的偏爱者的最荣耀的奖赏，他从不慷慨给予。绝大多数人无缘此殊荣；另外的等待了一辈子--直到鬓发斑白，终于如愿以偿。

Joshua Loth Liebman "On my head pour only the sweet waters of serenity. Give me the gift of the Untroubled Mind."

Once, as a yongy man full of exuberant fancy, I undertollk to draw up a catalogue of the acknowledged "goods" of life. As other men sometimes tabulate lists of properties they own or would like to own, I set down my inventory of earthly desirables: health, love, beauty, talent, power,riches,and fame.

When my inventory was completed I proudly showed it to a wise elder who had been the mentor and spiritual model of my youth. Perhaps I was trying to impress him with my precocious wisdom. Anywany, I handed him the list. "This", I told him confidently, "is the sum of mortal goods. Could a man possess them all, he would be as a god."

At the corners of my friend's old eyes, I saw wrinkles of amusement gathering in a patient net. "An excellent list," he said, pondering it thoughtfully, "well digested in contented and set down in not-unresonable order. But it appears, my young friend, that you have omitted the most important element of all. You have forgotten the one ingredient, lacking with each possession becomes a hideous torment."

"And what." I asked, peppering my voice with truculence, "is that missing ingredient?"

"What a pencil stub he crossed out my entire schedule. Then, haveing demolished my adolscent dream structure at a single stroke, he wrote down three syllables: peace of mind. "This is the gift that God reserves for His special Proteges." he said.

"Talent and beauty He gives to many. Wealth is commonplace, fame not rare. But peace of mind - that is His final guerdon of approval, the fondest insignia of His love, He bestows it charily. Most men are never blessed with it; others wait all their lives- yes, far into advanced age - for this gift to descend upon them."
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