Imagine
Below is a beautiful story that a dear friend of mine shared with me recently. It is a perfect illustration of the tremendous power and potential influence of the curious/creative lens.
In 1973 Nathan and Vito were seriously ill. They occupied the same room in the military hospital. Nathan rested in the bed near the only window in their room. Each day he was allowed to spend time sitting up in his bed, which helped to drain the fluid that had accumulated in his lungs. Vito, the other soldier, was forced to spend all of his days flat on his back.
They talked a lot about their life, families, jobs, and vacations. On occasion, Nathan would describe, in detail, everything he would see outside the window. His roommate always looked forward to these moments as his world was broadened and brightened by these vivid pictures in his mind.
Nathan would describe the amazing views of a park situated next to a beautiful lake. Smiling children playing delightfully among the ducks and swans. Couples walking arm in arm among the bright, colorful flowers. The stunning city skyline served as a picturesque background.
When Nathan sat by the window and thoroughly described all that was happening outside, Vito would close his eyes and imagine all of the beautiful scenes of life that were so eloquently relayed to him. For those precious moments, he escaped his pain.
One morning Nathan passed away peacefully in his sleep. Vito was heartbroken.
After some time, when the nurse came to visit Vito, he asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse agreed and kindly made the switch. When she left, Vito slowly and painfully propped himself up on one elbow and took his first look at the outside world that he had seen only in his imagination. He was stunned. He was speechless. He felt shivers course throughout his body. The window faced a blank, brick wall.
The next time the nurse came to visit him, he told her about the beautiful things outside the window that Nathan would describe to him. The nurse replied that Nathan was a blind man. She said, “It was our secret. Nathan was always intent on inspiring and uplifting you. I chose to stay out of the way.”
How often do you exercise your imagination? I encourage you to be like Nathan and choose to see all of the beautiful things in life (imagined or not). When you change your lens, you change your life – and the lives of others.