Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and
if there is anything praiseworthy--
meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Not so long ago, there were two elderly men sharing the same hospital room. Patrick and Joe were very ill. Both of them were allowed to sit up in their beds for an hour each afternoon to help drain off the fluid from their lungs. Patrick's bed was next to the room's only window, and Joe's bed was next to a wall. Between them was a 5 feet tall wooden divider. There was no television sets there and then.

These two men would talk for hours whenever they were not sleeping. They would talk about their lives, their wives, their children, their grandchildren, their homes, their jobs, and the vacations they had taken and the places they had been.

Every afternoon, as Patrick could sit up, he would share with Joe all the things he could see outside the window. Joe loved this special hour of live commentary where his world was made alive again as Patrick described in dramatic details all the activities and sights of the world outside their boring and smelly hospital room.

The window overlooked a park with a beautiful lake. Ducks and swans swam on the waters while children sailed their toy boats. Young lovers strolled and enjoyed the flowers in full blossoms - sunflowers, daisies, lilies and tulips of various colors. Great oak trees graced the landscape, and even the view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

Joe could just imagine as Patrick painted each picture vividly into his mind. Once, Patrick did a great job in describing a passing parade that Joe, even without hearing any band or sound in the background, could almost see the very parade himself.

Weeks passed. One day, Patrick got a heart attack. He could not reach and press the bell to request for help. Joe heard Patrick groaning in great pain. He could have pressed the bell on Patrick's behalf. But Joe would not. He had something else in his mind. This might be his chance to have Patrick's bed as it was next to the window.

Ten minutes passed. The nurse arrived only to find the lifeless body of Patrick. She alerted the doctor, and he certified that Patrick was dead. The hospital attendants took the dead body away. After the nurse had cleared the bed and changed the beddings, Joe asked her whether he could be shifted to Patrick's bed.

The nurse was willing to assist Joe in the shift. Joe was overjoyed. He could see the lake and the city himself. As the hospital attendants transferred him to the other side of the wooden divider, Joe found out that there was no window. It was just another wall.

Joe then asked the nurse about the window. The nurse told him that there was no window. She also told Joe that Patrick was blind, and was doing his part in encouraging Joe by telling all the imaginary wonderful things happening outside. Joe was devastated. He had lost a friend who really loved him.

In this world of pilgrims and strangers, there is a tremendous joy in making others happy, despite our own adverse situations. Grief, when shared, is half the sorrow. But joy, when shared, is doubled, tripled or even a hundredfold.

The window of life is what we see with our eyes. If we can see beauty in every thing or every person, we are beautiful people! God's creation is beautiful beyond comprehension if we see it with His eyes. Our world is how we view it. Every sight is a beautiful picture. There is something beautiful even in the coldest winter or darkest night. Just look into the sky in a cold dark night and see the twinkling stars!

We are once dead but now alive to tell other dead men where to find life! Yesterday is the past, today is the present and tomorrow is the future. Today is a gift of God, that's why it is called the present.

This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24