The Man Who Understood

Danger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the Guardian of the Forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions.

Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. You've heard people say that someone's very understanding. What do they mean by the word understand? I'm sure that true understanding is more than a sympathetic attitude or a tolerant feeling for the situation at hand.

To really understand, a person must be able to project himself into the feelings, the heart ache, the anxiety, the depression, or the joy of the person going through the experience at hand. Is it possible to do this?

Can we know what another person's feeling is and experience that same feeling ourselves? Now I'm not talking about a mental approach, but a heartfelt understanding. To give you a better idea of what I mean, suppose we get started with the story, The man who understood the shouting and laughter of children coming home from school is most enjoyable,

And all mother and dad pay taxes to hire teachers to pour education into the playfield heads. The doors of learning have opened and closed for the last time on this day, as Steve McLean and his pals walk home from school.

Let's push the clock along a little and find Steve banging the kitchen screen door with the resounding bang of a firecracker. Steve, what could I tell you about doors? I know, Mom. We don't live in a barn, and the only time we can make exploding noises is on the 4th of July.