Hospital Window

[Guest guest]

Aum Amriteswaryai Namaha!

Hello brothers and sisters,

I thought I will share Hospital Window with all of you.

 

The origin of this letter is unknown but it reminds me of Amma's teaching.

Look within. What happens outside is not in your control but you can stay

happy within if you make the effort.

 

 

Hospital Window

 

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 could! n'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.

 

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

buy.

 

Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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