Scoutmaster's Minute
Allen Maddox (amaddox@LUTRON.COM)
Thu, 15 Apr 1999 14:33:06 -0400
I just got this off another e-mail list. It was intended as a chain letter, but I
think it makes a good Scoutmaster's Minute.
YiS (Yours in Scouting)
Allen Maddox
SM T9
Honey Brook, PA
Horseshoe Trail District, Chester County Council
A Wild and Crazy Fox.... and working my ticket
========================================
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.
And
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
he
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 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 warm afternoon the man by the
window
described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn'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 world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for
himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the
bed. I
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. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that
money can't buy. The origin of this letter is unknown,
