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 side, in traction.
The men talked for hours on end and quickly shared stories of their loved ones, families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military, 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. Birds played on the water while children sailed their model boats. People were walking hand in hand, taking in every color and smell nature had to offer. Both men longed to go for a walk.
Weeks had passed since they became roommates. 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.
The other man had healed enough, it was time that he could lay on his back and be removed from traction. He asked if he could be moved to the other bed, he wanted to be 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 big window beside the bed and see the world again. He was surprised and confused when he realized he was facing a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his friend to describe 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: We all are the authors of our own life stories. What you do with your blank wall is up to you. Encouraging others, building them up, and being supportive are ways we make life on Earth better for all. We all know “that friend” who always has an encouraging word, smile, touch, or way of making life better, even if for a moment. 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.
