There was a lone man, walking slowly down the road.  His was the walk of someone who didn’t exactly know where he was going, nor was he in a hurry to get there.  I had to admire his easy gate and his relaxed posture.  Ah, I thought, there’s a man without a care in the world.  He’s content and happy, and I envy him.

But as I came even with him, I saw the look on his face.  His chin was dipped down, his cheeks were damp, and in his eyes was the look of a thousand sorrows.  Ah, I thought, there’s a man with too many cares for this world.  He’s sad and lonely, and I don’t envy him.

But then the man looked up at me.  His chin lifted.  His eyes softened and he smiled, gently.  Slowly, he held out a single red rose he’d been clutching.  The thorns had pricked his hands, but the rose was perfect.  I took it in my hand, overcome by the change of expression in the man’s face.  The smile he shared reached his eyes and shone from his soul.  I thought, there’s a man whose learned so much from the cares in this world.  He’s at peace and reaching out to others, though pain is ever present inside himself.  I envy him.