We pick up the story when struck down by the angry kings in the middle of the battle between the kingdoms of the north and south, the merchant rose again and began to whisper a secret into the soldiers ears, and the kings of the north and south ordered their “messed up” soldiers to be killed by another wave of soldiers.

The next wave of soldiers from both sides rushed into the battle killing all those who remained below. But before they had finished, those who had been slain first got up and began to help those who were slain after them. And everywhere you looked people were whispering in each other’s ears.

“Enemies don’t whisper in each other’s ears!” shouted the angry kings. the kings were so angry they could have killed each other. But not before they found out what the merchant was telling everybody. They were mad, but not stupid.

So the merchant whipered in the king of the north’s ear. “RIDICULOUS!” said the king of the north. Then the merchant whispered in the king of the south’s ear. “FOOLISHNESS!” snarled the king of the south.

And off went the kings all alone, one to the east and one to the west, as far away from each other as possible. As they wandered off into the distance, the merchant picked up his cart and followed behind them singing,

I have pots. I have pans. I have hammers and saws. I sell this. I sell that. But wisdom I give away free.

What was the merchant’s secret? Come close and I’ll share it with you. It was Love one another.

O that our world leaders would embrace the wisdom of the merchant.

—

Waging Peace is adapted from a story by John Aurelio in his book Story Sunday.