A young couple boarded a train and headed to their assigned car. While they were busy getting their belongings in place and taking their seats they noticed an older man sitting with his son a few rows back. While they knew best not to eavesdrop, the man’s son, who appeared to be in his late teens, was transfixed by the view, wide-eyed and staring intently, and he was also quite loud in his conversation.
“Dad, look! The trees are going behind!” he exclaimed.
Helping her boyfriend put their things in the overhead compartment, the woman began watching the two of them from the corner of her eye. The boy’s father smiled amiably at his son’s enthusiasm, yet said nothing, his child continuing to stare mesmerized at the scenery outside.
Finally settling into their seats, the young couple relaxed and began looking out the window themselves.
After a few moments, the boy’s awe-struck voice rose again: “Dad, look! The clouds are running with us!”
A mild but pleasant “mm-hmm…” was the father’s only response.
At this point the couple exchanged a knowing glance. The young woman stood up in her seat, turned around and addressed the teenager’s dad:
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor? I know someone who may be able to help him.”
The older man smiled and said: “We are actually just returning from the hospital. My son was blind from birth, and he just got his eyes today.”
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. ~ Helen Keller Click To Tweet
Source: A long-circulating internet anecdote with no known author, this simple yet deeply eye-opening parable stands as an example of how perception shapes reality, and the importance of non-judgement.
