spiritual values. It has often been noted that those who live, or have lived,
in the shadow of death bring a mellow sweetness to everything they do. 
Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die,
but usually we picture that day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health,
death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an
endless vista. So we go about our petty tasks, hardly aware of our listless
attitude toward life. 
The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses.
Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that
lie in sight. Particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight
and hearing in adult life. But those who have never suffered impairment of sight
or hearing seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties.
Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration
and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful
for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health
until we are ill. 
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were
stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life.
Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence
would teach him the joys of sound.