By: Ted Camp, Silent Word Ministries

Two look at a glass of water. One sees it is half full, and the other sees it as half empty. Two looked out the bars, one saw the mud and the other saw the stars. How do you view life? Once, a wise man advised me not to waste my energy on negative things, but to focus on the positive things in the future. This statement changed my life and ministry. You can choose what you view.

My favorite illustration is from “The Window.” “Two men were in nursing home beds in the same room. Both men were seriously ill. They had no radio, television or books. They became very personal friends. Neither man could leave their bed, but one was fortunate enough to be next to a window. He would sit up for hours and describe what was happening outside the window.

Each day he brought the outside world into the little room and his friend. It was the highlight of the day as he described the outside park, sunshine, birds and people. Soon the friend became jealous that he could not personally view the outside. All he could see was the same boring room each day. One evening the man at the window began having difficulty breathing and soon died. As the man was being removed from the room the other man asked, “Please, nurse may I be moved to the bed near the window.” 

He was eager to see the beauty that his friend had described. He was excited as the nurse moved him near the window. Finally, he looked outside and was shocked as he only a blank brick wall. He quickly complained to the nurse and explained what the other patient had viewed outside the window.

The nurse replied, “Oh, you didn’t know? That man was blind.”

How do you view life through your window? What is your attitude?  When you have a pain, don’t be one. It is not what happens to you, but in you that makes the difference. People avoid complainers. Even the Lord tired of the murmuring crowd. Don’t waste your life by dwelling on things of the past. What has happened has happened. You cannot change the past, but you can change the future.

As one man who flew for the first time said, “The attitude (altitude) up here is bad.”  I have noticed the attitudes in some businesses, churches and Christians are bad. How many contented Christians do you know? We need to look through our window of life and view the blessings of the Lord and life. Do you only see a wall? Choose to be a contented Christian. This week seek to have a good attitude. Be a blessing to others. You will be glad you did, and so will others.

These are Words of Wisdom.

Ted Camp is director of Silent Word Ministries, a worldwide ministry to the deaf based in Trenton. E-mail him at TC@silentword.org to be added to the email list for weekly articles or phone (706) 657-8000.