An artist who had painted many pictures of great beauty found that he had not yet painted the one“real”picture.
In his search along a dusty road, he met an aged priest who asked him where he was going.“I do not know，”said the artist，“I want to paint the most beautiful thing in the world.Perhaps you can direct me to it.”
“How simple，”replied the priest，“In any church or creed, you will find it—‘Faith'is the most beautiful thing in the world.”
The artist traveled on. Later, he met a young bride who told him that the most beautiful thing in the world is“Love”.“Love”makes the world go round.It builds poverty into riches, sweetens tears and makes much of little.Without love there is no beauty.
Still the artist continued his search and met a weary soldier. The artist asked him the same question and the soldier answered，“Peace”is the most beautiful thing in the world.War is ugly and wherever you find peace you’ll find beauty, faith and love.
“How can I paint them-Faith, Love and Peace?”thought the artist.As he resumed his walk, his mind wondered on the“real”picture he hoped to paint.He was surprised that without thinking where he was going, he had reached his familiar surroundings.As he entered the doorway, light glistened in his eyes and he realized that his search was over.
In the faces of his wife and children, he saw Love and Faith.“Not a minute passed by that our children and I had not thought of you. We prayed that you would return to us safely，”his wife said as they embraced him.He sat on his favorite old chair and his heart was at peace.
The artist painted the most beautiful thing in the world and called it“HOME”.
-priest [priːst]n.教士；神父；牧师
典型例句
The priest persuaded him to give up his bad habit.
牧师劝他改掉坏习惯。
联想记忆
pray v.祈祷；请求；恳求
-dusty [ˈdʌstɪ]adj.满是灰尘的；落满灰尘的
典型例句
This room’s rather dusty, I’m afraid.
我看，这间屋子的尘土未免太多了。
最常用法
a dusty answer（对要求的）轻率的回绝；淡然的拒绝
not so dusty 还好；还不坏
-direct [diˈrekt, daiˈrekt]v.引导；指引；带领；导演
典型例句
The policeman directed me to the shopping centre.
警察给我指引去购物中心的路。
最常用法
direct sb.to 给（某人）指路，把……的方向指示给（某人）：
联想记忆
director n.经理；导演
-faith [feɪθ]n.信任；信仰
典型例句
Nothing could make me waver in my faith.
任何事都动摇不了我的信仰。
联想记忆
belief n.信念；信仰
-poverty [ˈpɔvətɪ]n.贫困；贫乏；劣质
典型例句
The article shows a poverty of imagination.
这篇文章显得缺乏想象力。
最常用法
live in poverty 过着穷困的生活
-resume [rɪˈzjuːm]v.（停顿后）继续进行 n.简历；履历
典型例句
We resumed our work after a rest.
休息之后我们重新开始工作。
最常用法
resume one’s health 恢复健康
联想记忆
continue v.继续；连续；维持
-glisten [ˈglɪsn]v.闪光；闪耀
典型例句
Her eyes glistened with tears.她眼中的泪水在闪烁。
联想记忆
sparkle v.闪耀；冒火花
-embrace [ɪmˈbreɪs]v.拥抱（某人）
典型例句
She embraced her son before leaving.
她在离开前拥抱着儿子。
联想记忆
hug v.紧紧抱住（某人/某物）；（尤指示爱）拥抱，搂抱
有位画家，曾画过很多精美的画作，可是他觉得自己还是未能画出那副“真实”的画来。
他沿着一条布满尘土的路一路追寻，他遇到一位年长的牧师，牧师问他要去哪里。“我不知道，”画家回答，“我想画出世界上最美好的东西。也许你能给我指引。”
“很简单，”牧师回答说，“在任何教堂或者信条中你都会发现——‘信仰’是世界上最美好的东西。”
画家继续前行。后来，他遇到一个年轻的新娘。新娘告诉他，世界上最美好的东西是“爱”。“爱”能让世界转动。它让贫穷变得富有，让泪水变甜，使匮乏变丰富。没有爱，也就没有美。
画家继续他的追寻之旅，又遇到一个疲惫不堪的士兵。画家也问了他同样的问题，士兵回答道：“和平”是世界上最美好的东西。战争丑恶无比，能找到和平的地方，就能找到美、信仰和爱。
“信仰、和平与爱——我怎样才能把它们画出来呢？”画家想。当他继续旅程时，脑子里一直想着自己希望画出来的那副“真实”之作。他惊讶地发现自己不知不觉中居然又回到了熟悉的环境。他走进家门，眼睛里闪烁着一丝光芒，他知道自己的追寻结束了。
就在妻子和孩子们的脸上，他看见了爱和信仰。“我和孩子们无时无刻不在想你，为你的平安归来而祈祷，”他们相拥时，妻子这样说道。他坐在自己最喜欢的那把旧椅子上，内心一片安宁。
画家画出了世界上最美好的东西，并把它称作“家”。