The window of opportunity

 'Stay in bed for the day' my husband said' get rid of that cold'. 'Hmm.. I thought, maybe I will have a few hours in bed.'  I could do with a rest. So I had stayed in bed that morning and much of the afternoon.

As I was laying there, gazing out through the window, I watched the people passing by in the street and reflected on how their lives might be, on whether there might be sadness behind the smile, or worry and anxiety behind the sombre look.  I thought of how little we might know about one another's lives, whether we be workmates, neighbours or even strangers. After a while my husband brought me a cup of tea and I started to feel a little better, and decided to read.  I looked at the books on my shelves and chose a book of poems called 'In Memory Of', a collection of poets' tributes to, and memories of, friends and loved ones that had died.

As I read poem after poem of people's feelings, some of joyful memories and some of grief, I began to realize that God was revealing to me what I had pondered on earlier while gazing through my window.  He was now showing me what lay behind a face in the street, revealing to me people's innermost feelings, people who were mostly hurting through loss and loneliness.

I don't believe that God does anything by chance. I am a Christian and 'every day in my life is written in His book  before even one of them was formed.' 

As I lay in my bed I had to question my part in life as far as my fellow man was concerned.  I read on and became filled with compassion for the people who had allowed me to see into their lives. 

I know that on that day, when I was brought to see inside the hearts and minds of others, I felt compassion which brought in turn responsibility. I have been made aware of the loneliness and suffering of others, Christians included, and it has compelled me to play my part in life to the best of my ability.  May the Lord help me always to be alert to where, and when, I may help another.

One poem in particular about a man who was grief stricken at the loss of his soul mate and looked to God for release filled me with such sadness that it brought me to write this poem which contains, I suppose, my own deepest feelings.

THE WINDOW

'Twas sickness caused me on that day 

to rest and in my bed to lay

while through my window I could see 

the world outside did not need me

It carried on its busy life 

regardless of my pain and strife

Yet as I gazed upon the scene 

that lay beyond lace covered screen

I wondered at each passer by.... 

if face reflected truth or lie

I lay in comfort needing naught 

my husband food and drink had brought

but for my mind to idle be 

was nothing short of misery

Then suddenly my eye was cast 

upon my books - a treasure vast

A book of poems I should read 

to satisfy my spirit's need

To see what lay within the mind 

of other beings of my kind

I turned the pages one by one... 

a stirring journey had begun

For hidden there in every leaf 

was joy and sorrow, love and grief

A vast collection here was seen  

of frozen dreams that might have been

of past regrets and loneliness  

sweet memories of tenderness

lost loves and breaking of the heart 

when sudden death caused to depart

a soul mate of so many years

My burning cheeks felt cooling tears

Such moving stories I had read 

as I lay sick upon my bed

a window had been shown to me 

through which I 'd seen reality

of pain that lay behind a smile  

of need to go the extra mile

What of my part in life I thought 

What words of comfort had I brought

in all my years upon this Earth  

What words of love, support and worth

had touched the lives of those I'd met  

Was there remorse, was there regret?

What use is it if kindly word 

is left in thought and never heard?

This world that from my bed I saw, 

that looked so proud and strong before

has need of me.... and I of it, 

each soul to do its special bit

To share with others words of love  

God's seeds of blessing from above

is all that may be asked of me 

to help to set another free

from pain and hurt and misery 

that death and loss has caused to be

But seeds can never come to birth 

unless they're planted in the earth

So Father help me in my life 

to ease another person's life

to seek my Lord to try to do 

the things that I have learned from You

and may You cause my eyes to see 

windows of opportunity

to stretch a tender loving hand 

towards the suffering in this land,

to sow Your seeds of love and peace  

that word and deed might bring release