The Blind Man

A long long time ago, about a few years in the past, there was a young blind man.

He walked around the town and lived his life. He would wait at bus stops for hours, would face walls, and would walk back and forth in the same place again and again. Sometimes, he would whistle a tune while living his life.

Another young man saw the blind man one day and felt a great pity for him. "There's no way this blind man can be happy all alone in the city," the young man thought.

He invited the blind man to come stay with him at his small cottage up in the mountains where the young man found it more peaceful and quiet.

The blind man had never met this young man before, but the blind man always loved kind strangers. He agreed. He packed the few items that he owned over the next few days, said goodbye to his bus stop and walls, and moved to the mountains with the young man.

"It is much better to live out here than in the city for a blind man like you," said the young man. "You are safe from all those people and troubles while you are here."



The two men became good friends over the next few months. They laughed and they played in the mountain woods together. They fought just like brothers at times, and they even told each other stories every night before bed.

It was a simple carefree life for them. The kind of life that never seems to last long enough.



One day, the blind man noticed that the young man was quite sad. His voice sounded cracked and reserved when he talked, like he was thinking too much.

"What's on your mind?" asked the blind man.

"Oh nothing, I just wish you could see all that I can is all. I know that you cannot see and it makes me quite sad sometimes thinking about all the vivid images you are missing out on."

"What do you mean?" the blind man inquired further.

"Well, how do you know what a rainbow looks like, what it's like to gaze at the force of a running river, or what a scene it is to behold when flocks of beautiful cranes fly overhead?" responded the young man.

"I am still confused by what you are thinking," said the blind man.

"Never mind, forget it," replied the young man as the night became darker and the woods became more silent. It was time for sleep.



It was the middle of the night while the young man was dreaming something pleasant when he was awakened by the blind man.

"Come with me, we're going out into the woods," said the blind man.

"Are you mad? It's freezing and there might be wild creatures that can kill us out there."

"Come with me, you'll see. Trust me and come."

Had it not been for all the time they spent together and the fun times they had, the young man may have never went. He sleepily put on his coat, and the two headed into the dark woods together.



It was pitch black all around and the blind man said,"Now tell me, what do you see?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing, it's only cold out here," grumbled the young man. It was so dark and cloudy that not even the stars shined.

"Look harder, look longer," said the blind man. He waited a few minutes. "Now what do you see?"

"Still nothing." The young man was getting cold, he was sleepy, and wanted the warmth of his bed. He knew he could not just leave the blind man there, so he swallowed his thoughts and tried to look harder. Still he saw nothing but pitch black darkness.

"Now what do you see?" asked the blind man.

"I see nothing, I want to go home."

"How do you know you see nothing?" asked the blind man.

"Because it's so damn dark, that's why," the young man was not the nicest of people when he was cold and tired.

"Then, isn't it darkness you see, not nothing?" inquired the blind man.

"Nope, just nothing," responded the young man sarcastically.

"Have a seat, here on the earth, and I will tell you what I see," the blind man said with a sort of knowing in his voice that the young man had not heard before. The young man sat on the soft earth as he was told.

"Okay, what do you see? You're blind, but I'll listen," responded the young man.



The blind man begun,

"I see the darkness, full of life."

"I see the pain, the love, the hope."

"I see the people singing in the streets, busy bustle through the metropolitan maze."

"I see the lovers and haters yell bittersweet words to each other in the city streets."

"I see the wedded folk contemplate the realities of marriage. The ones that will last are always built on a soft yet adaptable foundation."

"I see the old grandma who has no greater joy than the laughter of her grandchildren. Each fold of her wrinkled skin tells a story."

"I see the kids laughing in the park, playing with their dogs who run after them."

"I see that man crying in the corner, feeling so alone and unloved, regretting many of the choices he's made, yet he always chooses to carry on."

"I see that young infant, so vulnerable and so pure. Screaming out loud when it is hungry, making such a fuss when it is too hot or too cold."



"You sure see a lot for a blind man," the young man said out loud.

"I'm not done quite yet," the blind man continued.



"I see the birds chirp as they come to collect the ripe fruits of all the seasons."

"I see the bears come out of hibernation, fierce and hungry as they stomp around.

"I see the deer screech during mating season, the clash of antlers to showcase strength."

"I see the silent serpent slither through the leaves to catch prey."

"I see the wolves cry out messages to the far corners of the earth."

"I see the spiders meticulously building their webs, rebuilding them when heavy rainstorms have past."

"I see the fish leap out of the water and enter back in with a big splash."

"I see the crickets hum out a night tune, the frogs who reply."



He went on as the young man listened,

"I see the detail of every grain of sand running through my fingers. I see the water against my skin and the vastness of the ocean as I swim."

"I see the voices of the trees as I climb high into the branches to taste the sun, to listen to the wind. I see the sweet smells of all the flowers with the changing seasons."

"I see the sands of the desert, the seeds that collect in the dunes."

"I see the hot days and cold nights as the year passes, no moment in time ever the same."

"I see the river carve out rock with patience. Each miniscule scrape rearranging billions of years of creation."

"I see the stars and how they vibrate, sending dreams and messages to those who will listen."



The young man felt a stiff ball of emotion collect in his throat, yet all he could mutter was, "Is that it?" He half expected what would come next.



"No, I also see you," said the blind man.

"I see the way you sit looking out your window on cold and sunny days. The way you long to rush through the woods and get dirty."

"I see when you are upset by the way you talk, how your voice becomes ever so deeper, ever more potent."

"I see that fire in your eyes, that what if. Those hopes and dreams you want to come true one day, yet that day never seems to come close enough."

"I see the way you talk to animals. Gentle and kind, it was seeing the way you spoke to the birds that made me trust you."

"I see how your heart yearns, the ideals you strive for and the soul that keeps you alive."

"I see the way you smile, the warmth that radiates from your body, the way you hug people as if they were your own children."

"I see all that love in your heart and all those wonderful gifts you have. The attention to detail and beauty that only you know how to explain."

"I see the way you walk around gently. With your bare feet, you never make a sound, but your presence is always known."

"I see how you make your tea, carefully steeping and blending every herb precisely."



The young man began to feel very stiff. He wanted to speak and run, but his body would not let him.



"I see the food you make, the art you create from your hands when you touch food. The flavors that pour out from your heart."

"I see the clouds in your head, the sky in your mind, and how your ideas are never too big for you to keep thinking them."

"I see the restraint in your voice, when you are angry with me or others. Yet you swallow your pride because you do not want to lose anyone you love."

"I see how you water the plants. You kneel down to their level, always sure that they know you are there."



The young man had heard such words before, but they sounded different coming from the blind man. They had meaning, they had life, they carried love. The young man believed them.



"I see how very ancient spirits surround you constantly, able to take care of you when you may need them. They keep the lessons you need to learn in order and on time."

"I see your dreams. So vivid and bright. The bounty and fruit that collects in your presence is your special talent. It comes naturally to you."

"I see a deep soul, deep as the darkness itself. Full of creative power and love. How your touch can change lives and transform them in an instant."

"I see how you are thankful for each breath, that no matter how tough life may seem at times, you are willing to let it in."

"I see the beautiful being that you are, the light that always shines through no matter how small."

"I see what most people would call the great mystery in you."

"I see how you took me in because of pity, but then quickly learned that it was you who needed me."

"I see you for who you are."

"All the things that you call nothing, that is what I see."



The young man could not move or speak for some time. He felt the chill of the cold forest kiss his face. He tried to take deep breaths, but a quiet calm would not let him. Water began to flow from his eyes, and fond memories caressed his mind. He had forgotten what it was like to feel loved, to take in that which he desired. The blind man had reminded him.

"Come, let's go home," said the young man after several moments.

He stood up, held the blind man's hand, and they walked back to the cottage together.

The trees rejoiced that the blind man had spoken. After all, it was the trees that had taught him how to see.