by Dr. Michael Sisson
Now in Heaven,  Dr. Sisson was the long-time Principal of Hammond Baptist Grade School

During World War II, two American soldiers met. Although they had very little in common, they became best friends. One was from the East coast—the son of a very influential New York family. The other was an Indian who had grown up on an Indian reservation out West. The East coast soldier had attended the best schools, while the Indian was barely literate. One had grown up in the big city, while the other had grown up in the wilds of the West.

Side by side, they fought across France and into Germany, forging a friendship that can probably only come when two have constantly faced death together. Although as different as daylight and dark, they became inseparable.

After the war, they vowed to stay in touch. The East coast boy went to an Ivy League college and became a very successful banker in New York City. The Indian returned to his poor reservation and lived on a small ranch; he was poor but happy. They kept their vow to stay in touch.

Twenty years passed, and the New York banker asked his friend to come and visit. The Indian traveled to New York City and was shown the sights by his old Army buddy. The banker pulled out all of the stops as he entertained the poor Indian.

On the last day of the reunion, they were walking down the famous Fifth Avenue. People were everywhere, and the noise was unbelievable. Suddenly, the banker realized his Indian friend was not with him. Backtracking a few steps, he found the Indian standing very still with his head slightly turned. “What in the world are you doing?” he asked.

“Listening to the crickets,” replied the Indian.

“Crickets!” cried the banker. “Man, you are crazy. This is New York City; there are no crickets here.”

Slowly the Indian walked over to a small tree planted in a concrete pot. He gently scratched the ground, and a cricket jumped into his hand.

“Boy, you must have extraordinary hearing,” the banker shouted over the din of the busy sidewalk. He continued, “You are fantastic. I cannot believe you could hear that cricket amidst all of this noise.”

“No better than most,” replied the Indian. With that, he took a handful of change and threw it down on the sidewalk. Suddenly, ten people stopped and began to look for the coins. They could not hear the crickets, but they did not miss the sound of the coins hitting the sidewalk.

This little story illustrates a beautiful principle of life—that you generally find that for which you are looking. Some of you go through life looking for the negatives, and that is what you find; while some look for the positives and that is what they find. Some of you look for the difficulties, while others look for the blessings, and both find that for which they are looking. Some of you moms look at your children and see all the problems and hardships that children can bring, while others see the potential and happiness; and both of you find that for which you are looking. Some of you look at others and see their shortcomings and weaknesses, while others look at the same person and see their strengths.

As you walk through the streets of life, do you hear the crickets or the coins?