Read This

[TTR Dr Payne]

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 details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.


Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.


Days, weeks and months 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:

(for paint)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.


'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.'

[paintba||er]

LOL, such shit.

The guy was probably either insane, or taking LSD anyway...

[IllBashU]

wtf... how do you know he on drugs? u think a person that isn't on drugs couldn't right that? y?

[paintba||er]

No, I meant the blind guy....That is if this has any truth. It's probably just some tripe that some dumbass Christian made up.

[Syntax]

Robert, there's no point in trying to convince paint that there are people who will go out of their way to either help and or make others happy. Also, you're trying to convince the guy who believes that wiki is a credible source that there are good people on this planet... Somehow, I don't see him changing his mind.

I suggest on giving up hope on the matter and allow him to live out his self-centered life. Why waste time on someone who is clearly not worth your time?

[paintba||er]

Originally Posted by Syntax

Robert, there's no point in trying to convince paint that there are people who will go out of their way to either help and or make others happy.

I never said that there aren't people like that. But those people aren't doing it just for the other people. They're doing it to benefit themselves in some way.

Originally Posted by Syntax

Also, you're trying to convince the guy who believes that wiki is a credible source that there are good people on this planet... Somehow, I don't see him changing his mind.

You're the closed minded one on that issue. It seems odd that someone who believes people should help each other thinks that something done by one person is more reliable than something that combines the knowledge of millions working together.

Originally Posted by Syntax

I suggest on giving up hope on the matter and allow him to live out his self-centered life. Why waste time on someone who is clearly not worth your time?

Everyone is "self centered." Helping others so that you aren't "self centered" is self centered.