Saturday, February 24, 2007 . 10:31 AM
I recall a story about two men who were in a hospital ward, both terminally ill. One, with a position near the window, said to his fellow patient, “I can see the street from here so I’ll tell you what is going on.” Day by day he kept up a commentary on the things he said he could see. He would remark, “Ah, here’s the morning paperboy on his round again. He doesn’t look so cheerful today. I wonder what’s happened to him.”
Then they would spend a few minutes speculating together on what might be going on in the young boy’s life. Later he would say, “Here comes the street sweeper. He seems to be more interested in his work today.” Then they would talk about what might be going on in his life. Day after day the man by the window brought the outside world right into the ward for his friend, and they spent many pleasant hours chatting about the things he reported seeing from his vantage point.
The day came when the man by the window died. For a while his friend was deeply upset, but then he asked if he could be moved to the position by the window, thinking that it might help him if he could see out himself and catch sight of some of those familiar figures. Imagine his feelings when he stretched to look out of the window only to discover he was not looking at a street but at a concrete wall!
Did you notice the loving intention in this story? Even if there is a lack of truthfulness in it. Sometimes, people around us tend to do things that show their concern for us. It is a good intention of him or her which I will not deny. But if the concern to help someone who you truly trust in and there’s such a deep friendship within you and him or her that requires you to be not truthful, will you do it? It’s definitely a hard decision…
Then they would spend a few minutes speculating together on what might be going on in the young boy’s life. Later he would say, “Here comes the street sweeper. He seems to be more interested in his work today.” Then they would talk about what might be going on in his life. Day after day the man by the window brought the outside world right into the ward for his friend, and they spent many pleasant hours chatting about the things he reported seeing from his vantage point.
The day came when the man by the window died. For a while his friend was deeply upset, but then he asked if he could be moved to the position by the window, thinking that it might help him if he could see out himself and catch sight of some of those familiar figures. Imagine his feelings when he stretched to look out of the window only to discover he was not looking at a street but at a concrete wall!
Did you notice the loving intention in this story? Even if there is a lack of truthfulness in it. Sometimes, people around us tend to do things that show their concern for us. It is a good intention of him or her which I will not deny. But if the concern to help someone who you truly trust in and there’s such a deep friendship within you and him or her that requires you to be not truthful, will you do it? It’s definitely a hard decision…