Monday, March 18, 2013

"creatures of four walls"



This was his fourth year in the hospital, and his family had by then spaced out their visits to see him. Though he was suffering from ventilator dependent respiratory failure, failure to thrive, recurrent pneumonias and heart failure, his real suffering was being stuck in those four walls of a hospital room for the rest of his life.

His condition was not always such that it kept him hospital-bound.  At one point, he was ready to go home but his wife could not muster enough will and support.  At other times, he was hoping to get better than he already was before going home.  His plans never came through, as so often happens.  He was a permanent resident of those four walls by the time I took over his care.

By nature man is a creature of four walls; it can be a room in a house, home, hospital, prison or grave. Our struggles to build a life outside of four walls ultimately bring us back to some type of four walls, like that patient was in the hospital room.

Some people live this life with the goal of leaving it wisely. They live in walls of four seasons knowing that one season won't last forever, as will not the other seasons.  Life goes on and this time will pass, and the four walls of our dwellings change names from a room to a grave in a matter of time. The wise make a permanent dwelling wisely.

3 comments:

leo said...

It is true that human being is creature of four wall, no matter it is home or grave.

Jackson Chronicles said...

Thank You Daanish for the provoking post. Your analogy is too true. For I often forget that life is fleeting and how the memories we create leave a legacy for which we will be remembered.

I need to ask myself, Is what I am doing benefiting others in a lasting way? If the answer is No, then how can I change my behavior? Will my legacy be imprisoned by walls of denial, anger, bargaining and depression? Or will I be remembered for hope, acceptance and charity?

Your posts always cause much lasting thinking on ways to better ourselves. Thank you.

Best to you always.

marium said...

Dear Danish,
It is also a thought provoking post.I never saw life in this manner as you observed it .But you agree with me that thoughts are the only blessed gifts of human beings that do not follow the boundries and that's the way the life progress.