SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Two men, both seriously ill,
occupied the same hospital room.
One man was allowed to sit up in his
bed for an hour each afternoon
to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.
The other man had to spend all his time
flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.
They spoke of their wives and families,
their homes, their jobs,
their involvement in the military service,
where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in
the bed by the window could sit up,
he would pass the time by describing
to his roommate all the things
he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those
one-hour periods where his world would be
broadened and enlivened by all the
activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
Ducks and swans played on the water
while children sailed their model boats.
Young lovers walked arm in arm
amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of
the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in
exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the
room would close his eyes and imagine the
picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window
described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't
hear the band - he could see it.
In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the
window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse
arrived to bring water for their baths only to find
the lifeless body of the man by the window,
who had died peacefully in his sleep.
She was saddened and called the hospital attendants
to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate,
the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.
The nurse was happy to make the switch,
and after making sure he was comfortable,
she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one
elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look
out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse
what could have compelled his deceased roommate
who had described such wonderful
things outside this window.
The nurse responded that
the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making
others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow,
but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich,
just count all the things
you have that money can't buy.

Thanks to the many sources and the teachers for this knowledge
and wisdom that is helping us on our journey.