47 The Hospital Window
Larry was seriously ill and sent to the hospital. He underwent emergency surgery and had to spend his recovery lying flat on his back in a small hospital room. Larry was feeling very depressed and downcast as all he could do was stare at the ceiling as he was lying down. Shortly after Larry began his recovery, another patient named Harold also occupied the room. Harold was being treated for a severe respiratory infection. Harold was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon so that nurses could drain fluid from his lungs. Harold's bed was next to the only window in the room.
Larry and Harold quickly became friends and spent hours on end talking to each other. They would talk about their families, their hobbies, and the things that they would do once they finally recovered and were discharged from the hospital. Larry was very thankful that he had someone he could talk to. In the hour that Harold was allowed to sit up, he would pass the time describing to Larry what he saw outside the window.
Larry soon began to look forward to the daily one period where Harold would give a report on the outside world. Over the next few months, Harold described to Larry everything he saw. Harold described a serene park next to a pristine lake. Ducks and swans would splash about in the water as young lovers strolled the parks. Harold would also describe in vivid detail all the flowers he saw. One time, a band was even playing to the delight of a crowd of park goers on a warm Saturday afternoon. Larry couldn't hear the music, but he could imagine the scene as if he were there.
One day Larry awoke to find nurses and doctors attending over the lifeless body of Harold. Apparently, Harold and peacefully died in his sleep. Larry mourned the death of his newfound friend. After a period of time, Larry decided to ask the nurse if he could have Harold's bed and the nurse obliged.
Larry struggled to lift himself up with his arms so he could see through the window where Harold described so many wonderful things.
All Larry saw was the wall of an office building next to the hospital.
Confused, Larry called the nurse in and asked her what would prompt Harold to tell him all these stories of things he saw outside the window in the past few months. The nurse replied that Harold was actually blind and could not even see the wall outside the window. The nurse heard the stories that Harold told Larry, but she said nothing. She revealed to Larry that the doctors were actually very worried that Larry would not recovery from his illness. However, when Harold was in the room with Larry, the doctors were surprised at the strides Larry was starting to make in recovery.
Perhaps, the nurse mused, Harold was just trying to encourage Larry.
Larry nodded silently as a tear rolled down his cheek and he continued to look out the window.
Someone once said that there is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. We should encourage and pray for those around us who have either fallen sick or are going through hard times.
- Recommended reading: James 5:13-16
