Here’s a story I heard over the radio tonight and would like to share it with you.
Sandy Greenberg was an excellent student and was enrolled in the famous Columbia University. He came from a poor family and had to continue his study on scholarship. The competition was fierce and Sandy worked very hard.
When he was a sophomore, however, something happened to the poor boy. He contracted an eye disease that eventually was diagnosed as glaucoma, a disease that made people blind. And it was already too late when the disease was diagnosed, Sandy could hardly see anything in the end. The colorful world around him seemed to be going farther and farther away from him. You can imagine how difficult the situation was for Sandy then. How could he go on with his study without his eyesight?
Then came the miracle. Since Sandy was blind, his roommate, also a young boy from a poor family, gave him a hand. Every night, you could see the boy sitting beside Sandy and reading the textbook for him. And he kept doing so for Sandy till they finished their study in the university.
With the help of his roommate, Sandy graduated with honors from Columbia University and was ready to go to Oxford University for further study. He was still very poor then, but he managed to save $500.- for emergencies.
One day, Sandy received a call from his former roommate. “Sandy, I am really unhappy now. You know, I love singing so much and don’t want to be in school any more. I just want to try if I can succeed in music. I’m planning to form a band with another guy, but first we have to make a promo record. That will cost %500.- and I just cannot afford it!”
Hearing this, Sandy told his roommate immediately,” Don’t worry,buddy. I believe you will be somebody in music some day. I have $500.- and I can give it to you now!” What he didn’t tell his roommate was, ” You’ve helped me create my life, and it’s my turn to give you a hand now!” With that precious $500.-, his roommate finally released a record, with the title of The Sound Of Silence.
Now you may have known who Sandy’s roommate was. He was the well-known singer Art Garfunkel, who formed a band with Paul Simon. Many of their songs have become classics now: Scarborough Fair, Mrs Robinson, El Condor Pasa,…….
It was the selfishless help that Garfunkel had rendered to Sandy that led him to success, and the kindness was finally reciprocated. It is easy to help others once, twice, but it really tests your patience and perseverence when you help them for a long time. And it also reminds me of that saying,” A friend in need is a friend indeed.”……….
Note:
The background music: Scarborough Fair
By Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
