This parable has been making its rounds on the internet for a while. In case, you haven’t come across it, have a read and ponder the lessons the parable is trying to impart.
As the parable goes…
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids 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 about everything. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to 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 window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every colour of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, 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 day, he thought: Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn’t seem fair. As the thought fermented, his envy turned into resentment. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. “I should be by that window.” he thought – and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, the man by the window died in his sleep. The following morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she called the hospital attendant to take it away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the 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. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed …
It faced a blank wall!
Life lessons to take away from this parable.
We are always envious of other people - of their happiness, their wealth, their circumstances. But we don’t really know what they are going through, do we? Sometimes, they may seem better off, but it could be just appearances. And if they were, maybe they sacrificed a lot to achieve that, so they deserved to be better off. Therefore, don’t envy others and don’t be jealous of others.
Life is what you make it out to be. It can be radiant and vivid, exploding with sound and colour, or it can be dull and embittered. Seek delight and pleasure in your most difficult moments, and your darkest night could be your brightest day. Very often, the grimness of the circumstances which surround us is a product of our own mind. Perceived negatively, an unfortunate turn in your life could become devastating. When seen in a positive light however, the worst of adversities could be your greatest triumph.
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