Moved by the Transformational Encounter

There is no limit to the goodness of life.It grows more abundant with each new encounter.The more you experience and appreciate the goodness of life,the more there is to be lived.

生命的美好沒有界限。每一次相遇都會使這美好變得越發豐富。你經歷得越多，越能欣賞生命的美好，生命中的美好也就會變得越多。

假如人生不曾相遇

If No Encounter in This Life

◎ Anonymous

If there is no encounter in this life,

You will have no idea about the feeling of solicitude,

And the taste of mutual concern.

When walking lonely in the unfamiliar city,

You won't realize there is certain quiet yearning,

From afar every day.

If there is no encounter in this life,

You will find the world is big,

Big enough to offer new world that we never know before;

You will also think the world is so small,

That every corner is stamped by familiar footprints,

Just like that little repeating secret thought.

If there is no encounter in this life,

I don't know where I should stare at,

And the softness in your eyes will also not be oriented toward my direction.

I will watch sunrise and sunset,listen to the singing of the insects and birds,

With the accompany of tenuous cloud and gentle breeze,

Standing all by myself,body and shadow comforting each other.

If there is no encounter in this life,

Some happy appearances can only blossom out in unfamiliarity,

Some thoughtful ideas can't be fully developed,

The melody of the story won't be so euphonious and undulatory,

Some backward glances keep drifting away from the face,

Some words will be sealed in winter.

If there is no encounter in this life,

Those sensations known as love are still wandering,

Those tender feelings once gently called are also roaming around,

Those glances in dreams will be wrapped by trivial days,

Those little bits of mutual concern won't converge into a sea.

If there is no encounter in this life,

The ordinary years won't be woven by bright colors which form a gorgeous picture,

The plain lives will gradually decreased like rests in a movement.

美麗語錄

I live not in myself,but I become portion of that aroud me.

我活著不只是為了自己，我已成了我周圍的一部分。

假如人生不曾相遇，

你不會知道掛念的感覺，

不會知道世界上還有一種滋味叫作彼此關心。

行走在孤獨而陌生的城市里，

不會知道在每一個日子里，

還會有一份來自遠方的安靜的牽掛。

假如人生不曾相遇，

你會發現世界很大，

大到還有許多我們不曾知曉的地方；

也會發現世界很小，

小到每一個經過的角落都刻下了熟悉的足跡，

熟悉如那段翻來覆去不斷重播的秘密心事。

假如人生不曾相遇，

我不會知道該往何處凝視，

你也不會朝著我的方向凝眸。

每天只在風輕云淡里，

看日出日落，聽蟲鳴鳥叫，

冷暖自知，與自己的影子彼此安慰。

假如人生不曾相遇，

故事的旋律不會如此悠揚跌宕，

一些回眸始終游蕩在臉龐之外，

一些歡顏也只綻放在陌生之中，

一些心意無法演繹成飽滿篇章，

一些話語也將在冬季凝結成冰。

假如人生不曾相遇，

那些被人稱為愛的感覺還在徘徊流浪，

那些輕聲呼喚過的柔情也在四處漂泊，

那些夢里的眼神將被瑣碎的日子裹藏，

那些點滴流過的相思也不會匯聚成海。

假如人生不曾相遇，

平凡的歲月不會被編織成斑斕的明亮色彩，

簡單的生命會逐漸單調成樂章里的休止符。

渴望你的愛

Hungry for Your Love

◎ Barbara DeAngelis,Ph.D.

It is cold,so bitter cold,on this dark,winter day in 1942.But it is not different from any other day in this Nazi concentration camp.I stand shiveringly in my thin rags,still in disbelief that this nightmare[1] is happening.I am just a young boy.I should be playing with friends;I should be going to school;I should be looking forward to a future,to growing up and marrying,and having a family of my own.But those dreams are for the living,and I am no longer one of them.Instead,I am almost dead,surviving from day to day,from hour to hour,ever since I was taken from my home and brought here with tens of thousands of other Jews.Will I still be alive tomorrow?Will I be taken to the gas chamber tonight?

Back and forth I walk next to the barbed wire fence,trying to keep my emaciated[2] body warm.I am hungry,but I have been hungry for longer than I want to remember.I am always hungry.Edible[3] food seems like a dream.Each day as more of us disappear,the happy past seems like a mere dream,and I sink deeper and deeper into despair.Suddenly,I notice a young girl walking past on the other side of the barbed wire.She stops and looks at me with sad eyes,eyes that seem to say that she understands.That she,too,cannot fathom[4] why I am here.I want to look away,oddly ashamed for this stranger to see me like this,but I cannot tear my eyes from hers.

Then she reaches into her pocket,and pulls out a red apple.A beautiful,shiny red apple.Oh,how long it has been since I have seen one!She looks cautiously to the left and to the right,and then with a smile of triumph,quickly throws the apple over the fence.I run to pick it up,holding it in my trembling,frozen fingers.In my world of death,this apple is an expression of life,of love.I glance up in time to see the girl disappearing into the distance.

The next day,I cannot help myself—I am drawn at the same time to that spot near the fence.Am I crazy for hoping she will come again?Of course.But in here,I cling to any tiny scrap of hope.She has given me hope and I must hold tightly to it.

And again,she comes.And again,she brings me an apple,flinging it over the fence with that same sweet smile.

This time I catch it,and hold it up for her to see.Her eyes twinkle.Does she pity me?Perhaps.I do not care,though.I am just so happy to gaze at her.And for the first time in so long,I feel my heart move with emotion.

For seven months,we meet like this.Sometimes we exchange a few words.Sometimes,just an apple.But she is feeding more than my belly,this angel from heaven.She is feeding my soul.And somehow,I know I am feeding hers as well.

One day,I hear frightening news:we are being shipped to another camp.This could mean the end for me.And it definitely means the end for me and my friend.

The next day when I greet her,my heart is breaking,and I can barely speak as I say what must be said.“Do not bring me an apple tomorrow,” I tell her.“I am being sent to another camp.We will never see each other again.” Turning before I lose all control,I run away from the fence.I cannot bear to look back.If I did,I know she would see me standing there,with tears streaming down my face.

Months pass and the nightmare continues.But the memory of this girl sustains me through the terror,the pain,the hopelessness.Over and over in my mind,I see her face,her kind eyes,I hear her gentle words,and I taste those apples.

And then one day,just like that,the nightmare is over.The war has ended.Those of us who are still alive are freed.I have lost everything that was precious to me,including my family.But I still have the memory of this girl,a memory I carry in my heart and gives me the will to go on as I move to America to start a new life.

Years pass.It is 1957.I am living in New York City.A friend convinces me to go on a blind date with a lady friend of his.Reluctantly,I agree.But she is nice,this woman named Roma.And like me,she is an immigrant,so we have at least that in common.

“Where were you during the war?” Roma asks me gently,in that delicate way immigrants ask one another questions about those years.

“I was in a concentration camp in Germany.” I reply.

Roma gets a far away look in her eyes,as if she is remembering something painful yet sweet.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I am just thinking about something from my past,Herman,” Roma explains in a voice suddenly very soft.“You see,when I was a young girl,I lived near a concentration camp.There was a boy there,a prisoner,and for a long while,I used to visit him every day.I remember I used to bring him apples.I would throw the apple over the fence,and he would be so happy.”

Roma sighs heavily and continues.“It is hard to describe how we felt about each other—after all,we were young,and we only exchanged a few words when we could—but I can tell you,there was much love there.I assume he was killed like so many others.But I cannot bear to think that,and so I try to remember him as he was for those months we were given together.”

With my heart pounding so loudly I think it will explode,I look directly at Roma and ask,“And did that boy say to you one day,‘Do not bring me an apple tomorrow.I am being sent to another camp’?”

“Why,yes,” Roma responds,her voice trembling.

“But,Herman,how on earth could you possibly know that?”

I take her hands in mine and answer,“Because I was that young boy,Roma.”

For many moments,there is only silence.We cannot take our eyes from each other,and as the veils of time lift,we recognize the soul behind the eyes,the dear friend we once loved so much,whom we have never stopped loving,whom we have never stopped remembering.

Finally,I speak,“Look,Roma,I was separated from you once,and I don't ever want to be separated from you again.Now,I am free,and I want to be together with you forever.Dear,will you marry me?”

I see that same twinkle in her eyes that I used to see as Roma says,“Yes,I will marry you.” and we embrace,the embrace we longed to share for so many months,but barbed wire came between us.Now,nothing ever will again.

Almost 40 years have passed since that day when I found my Roma again.Destiny brought us together the first time during the war to show me a promise of hope,and now it has reunited us to fulfill that promise.

Valentine's Day,1996.I bring Roma to the Oprah Winfrey Show to honor her on national television.I want to tell her in front of millions of people what I feel in my heart every day：

“Darling,you fed me in the concentration camp when I was hungry.And I am still hungry,for something I will never get enough of:I am only hungry for your love.”

美麗語錄

If I know what love is,it is because of you.

因為你，我懂得了愛。

那是1942年冬季，一個寒冷陰暗的日子。但是在德國納粹集中營內，這與其他的日子并沒有什么不同。衣著單薄的我站在那里瑟瑟發抖，仍然不相信這場噩夢的發生。那時我只是個小男孩。我本應該同朋友們在一起玩樂，應該去上學，應該展望我的未來，憧憬著長大結婚，有一個自己的家庭。但這些夢想是屬于那些活著的人的，而我已經不能算其中一個了。實際上，自從我從家里被人帶走，與成千上萬的猶太人一同被帶到這里之后，我幾乎就是個死人了，每一天每一小時都在拼命與死神抗爭著。明天我還會活著嗎？今晚我是不是就會被帶進毒氣室？

我沿著帶刺的鐵絲網來來回回地走著，試圖讓我單薄的身體暖和起來。我餓了，但我餓得太久了，我都不想去記有多長時間了。我總是特別饑餓。可以吃的食物就像個夢一樣。每天隨著我們當中更多人的突然消失，往日的快樂就像是一場夢境，而我也一天天地深陷絕望之中。突然，我發現一個小女孩從鐵絲網那邊走來。她停下腳步，用一種悲傷的眼神看著我，仿佛在告訴我說她能夠理解我。不過，即便是她，也同樣不明白我為什么會在這兒。我想移開我的視線，被一個陌生人這樣盯著，我覺得特別害臊，但我的眼睛卻無法從她身上挪開。

然后她把手伸進口袋，掏出一個紅蘋果。這個紅蘋果多么鮮艷、多么美麗！噢，我都不記得上次見到這種蘋果是什么時候了！她小心翼翼地左右看了看，然后帶著勝利的微笑，迅速將蘋果拋過鐵絲網來。我跑過去撿起了它，用我那顫抖的、冰冷的手指緊握著它。在這到處充斥著死亡的世界里，這個蘋果就是生命和愛的象征。等我再次抬頭時，瞥見那女孩已經消失在遠處。

第二天，我情不自禁——我無法控制自己，又在同一時間來到鐵絲網那里。她還會再出現嗎，是我癡心妄想嗎？當然。但是在這種地方，一丁點的希望我都要抓住。她給了我希望，我必須牢牢抓住。

她又來了。而且她又給我帶來了一個蘋果，并且帶著同樣甜蜜的微笑把它拋過了鐵絲網柵欄。

這次我接住了它，并且舉起來讓她看。她的眼睛在閃爍。她是在可憐我嗎？可能吧。我才不會在乎。能這樣注視著她我就很開心了。這么久以來，我第一次感覺到，我的心中涌動著某種情感。

接下來的七個月里，我們就這樣相會。有時我們會交談幾句。有時只是一個蘋果。但是，她不只是安撫了我的胃，她就像天堂來的天使一樣，安撫了我的靈魂。而且，我知道我也同樣安撫了她。

一天，我聽到一個可怕的消息：我們將被押往別的集中營。這對我來說就是末日來臨，這就意味著我和她將要永別了。

第二天，當我跟她打招呼時，我的心都碎了，我勉強對她說了我必須要說的話。“明天不用再給我蘋果了。”我告訴她說，“我將被轉移到別的集中營。我們再也見不到對方了。”在我完全失控前，我轉身從鐵絲網旁邊跑開了。我忍不住想回頭看。但我不能回頭，我不能讓她看到我在這兒淚流滿面的樣子。

一晃又過了幾個月，噩夢依然在繼續。但對這個女孩的美好回憶支撐著我度過了那段恐怖、痛苦和絕望的日子。在我的腦海中，我一遍又一遍地看到她的臉龐，看到她那雙善良的眼睛，聽到她溫柔的話語，品嘗到那些蘋果。

直到有一天，噩夢突然之間就結束了。戰爭結束了。我們這些幸存下來的人自由了。我已失去了所有珍貴的東西，包括我的家庭。但我仍然保留著對這個女孩的回憶，這記憶一直被放在心底里，它給了我繼續走下去的意志，在我移居美國后，依然激勵著我開始新的生活。

歲月流逝，轉眼間就到了1957年。那時我住在紐約，一位朋友勸我和他的一位女性朋友約會，盡管不太情愿，我還是答應了。其實她還不錯，叫羅瑪。同我一樣也是移民，因此至少我們之間還存在一個共同點。

“戰爭期間你在哪兒？”羅瑪用移民們互相問及那段歲月所特有的微妙語調，小心翼翼地問我。

“我當時在德國的集中營里。”我回答。

羅瑪的眼神陷入了一片遐想之中，仿佛回憶起了什么痛苦而又甜蜜的事情。

“怎么了？”我問她。

“我只是在想從前的一些事情，赫爾曼，”羅瑪突然用一種輕柔的語氣向我解釋道。“你知道，那時我還是個小女孩，就住在一所集中營附近。那兒有一個男孩——一個小囚犯被關在營里，有很長一段時間我天天都去看他。我記得我給他帶去蘋果。我把蘋果從鐵絲網上扔過去，他就特別開心。”

羅瑪重重地嘆了一口氣，接著說道：“很難描述出我們當時對彼此的感覺——畢竟，我們那時還很小，有機會時我們也只是談過幾句話——但我可以告訴你，我和他之間包含著很多愛。我猜他可能和其他人一樣被殺了。但我無法去那樣想，所以我總是記起我們在一起相處的時光，記起那幾個月里他的樣子。”

我的心猛地狂跳起來，我想它快爆炸了。我盯著她的眼睛問道，“是不是那男孩有一天對你說，‘明天不用再給我蘋果了，我將被轉移到別的集中營’？”

“哎？是啊，”羅瑪顫抖著嗓音回答道。

“但是，赫爾曼，你怎么會知道這個？”

我握著她的手，答道：“因為我就是那個小男孩，羅瑪。”

長久的靜默。隨著時間的面紗被揭開，我們再也無法將眼光從彼此身上移開，我們認出了隱藏在眼光后面的那顆心，我們曾深深愛戀著對方，我們從未停止過相愛，我們從未停止過那段思念。

最后，我說：“你看，羅瑪，我與你分離過，但我再也不想與你分離了。現在，我自由了，我想和你永遠在一起。親愛的，你愿意嫁給我嗎？”

在她的眼里，我又一次看到了過去的那種光芒。羅瑪回答我說：“愿意，我愿意嫁給你。”我們擁抱在一起，這是多少年前我們曾渴望的擁抱，只是當時被鐵絲網擋住了。現在，這種事情再也不會發生了。

我和羅瑪的重逢差不多40年過去了。在戰爭年代，命運第一次讓我們相聚，給了我希望的承諾，而如今它又和我們團聚來履行這一承諾。

1996年的情人節，我帶著羅瑪去參加奧普拉·溫弗里脫口秀，在這個全國性電視節目中我向她表達了愛意。我想在億萬觀眾面前告訴她，每一天我心里一直想說的話：

“親愛的，當我在集中營里非常饑餓時，是你給我送來了食物。但現在我仍然很饑餓，因為有些東西我永遠也不會滿足：我只渴望你的愛。”

注釋

[1]nightmare['naitm??] n.噩夢，夢魘

[2]emaciated[i'mei?ieitid] a.瘦弱的，衰弱的

[3]edible[??d?b?l] a.可食用的

[4]fathom['f?e?m] v.理解；推測；揣摩

乞丐的啟示

How I've Been Enriched by Beggars

◎ Marjorie Hamlin

Outside our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam,a seemingly ancient woman on crutches waited beside the door with her hand outstretched.Every day I put my hand in hers as our eyes met.She never failed to return my smile,my grasp,and my greeting.

On the last day of our visit,I found myself alone on a busy corner across the street from our hotel.Bicycles and motorbikes careened in front of me.We had been advised to walk straight through the teeming traffic without looking right or left.Let them avoid us.

But tonight I was by myself and felt inadequate[1] to face the torrent of vehicles.As I hesitated on the curb,I felt a hand on my elbow and looked down to see the smile of my small beggar friend looking up at me.She nodded her head toward the street,indicating that she would take me across.Together,we moved slowly into the chaos as she gently prodded me forward.

When we reached the center of the crossing,I looked down at her again,In every man there is a king.Speak to the king,and the king will come forth.and couldn't resist exclaiming,“You have the most beautiful smile.”

She obviously knew little English,but must have recognized the tone,for she threw both arms and crutches around me in a big hug,while the traffic streamed by us on both sides.

Then we precarious[2] moved on toward the sidewalk,where she pulled my face down to hers,kissed me on both cheeks,and then limped away,still smiling and waving back to me.

I had not given her a single coin.We had shared something vastly more important—a warming of hearts in friendship.

This experience reminded me of something Mother Teresa once said,“If you cannot do great things,you can do small things with great love.”

To look beggars in the eye and smile,thus acknowledging their existence,is a small thing.Putting your hand into another's outstretched hand and grasping it firmly for a moment is also a small thing.Learning to use a greeting in the local language is not too difficult.But these are important.

For many reasons,giving money is not the best response to an outstretched hand.Many world travelers have discovered that the greatest gift they can give is their time and friendship.Everyone needs recognition,to be seen as worthy of attention,to feel appreciated and loved.

Traveling in poorer nations,I have witnessed a variety of ways to deal with beggars.The most common response of tourists faced with the poverty-stricken is to ignore them and focus their eyes elsewhere.I have seen people push away an outstretched hand in angry annoyance.A few may hastily drop a few coins into a beseeching[3] palm,and then execute a quick getaway in hopes that another 20 ragged pursuers won't immediately appear on the scene.

But I feel it's worthwhile to try to live by the words of English author John Cowper Powys,“No one can consider himself wholly civilized who does not look upon every individual,without a single exception,as of deep and startling interest.”

I once spotted a legless man sitting by a road at the Pushkar Camel Fair in India.I was returning to my tent after recording the exotic music of the dancing men of Pushkar and was replaying the music on my tape recorder.When the man's smile lured me to join him,we began to communicate in the kind of sign language and laughter one learns while vagabonding around the world.

After mimicking the whirling skirts and sticks,I showed him how my tape recorder worked.He motioned for me to give it to him.I hesitated,but only for a moment.After examining it carefully,he began to sing a hauntingly beautiful song,indicating that he wanted me to record it and take it home as a memory of our time together.

Moments before,we had been total strangers;suddenly,we were cemented in a momentary friendship born of our common existence in this world.His eyes shone as we exchanged names.My experience with Vidur confirmed the truth of the Scandinavian proverb,“In every man there is a king.Speak to the king,and the king will come forth.”

I've learned that those considered the world's most hopeless are so often rich in humanity,with hearts yearning to be affirmed—and ready to respond.

My life continues to be enriched by connecting with everyday humanity.Each time I do this,I rediscover that what I have been given is far beyond monetary value.And I reaffirm that everyone is worthy—and worth knowing.

美麗語錄

每個人心里都有一位國王。當你想和國王交談時，他就會出現。

在越南胡志明市我們住的一家旅館外，有一個看上去很老的女人拄著拐杖等在門外，雙手向外伸著。每天，當我們眼神交匯時，我都會把手放在她的手中。她每次都會以同樣的微笑、握手、問候來回報我的微笑、握手及問候。

在我們參觀的最后一天，我自己一個人，在旅館對面那條街的一個角落里。自行車和摩托車從我面前飛馳而過。有人建議我們直接穿過擁擠的車輛，不要再左右張望，避免他們撞到我們。

但今晚只有我自己，我感覺自己無力應對這急流般的車流。當我正在馬路邊猶豫的時候，我感到有人拍我的手肘。我向下一看，是我那瘦小的乞丐朋友，她正笑瞇瞇地看著我。她朝街對面點點頭，示意她可以帶我過去。她溫和地推著我向前走，我們便一起慢慢地走進嘈雜的車流當中。

當我們到達十字路口的中央時，我又一次低頭看了看她，情不自禁地喊道：“你的微笑最美麗。”

顯然她幾乎不懂英語，但一定是聽出了我的語調，于是她張開雙臂，扔掉拐杖，給了我一個大大的擁抱，這個時候車輛都被我們涌到兩旁了。

然后我倆蹣跚地向人行道走去，她把我的臉拉近她的臉，在我的兩頰上親了親，然后一瘸一拐地走了，還不時地回頭朝我微笑揮手。

我一分錢都沒有給她。但我們分享了更有意義的東西——友情的溫暖。

這次經歷讓我想起特蕾莎修女曾經說過的一句話：“如果你做不了偉大的事情，那就帶著偉大的愛心去做一點小事。”

用眼睛和笑容看待乞丐，認同他們的存在，這都是小事情。將你的手放進他人伸出的手中，然后緊緊地握一會兒，這也是一件小事。學會用方言講一句問候語并不困難。但是，這些都很有意義。

出于多種原因，向乞丐們伸出的手中放錢并不是最好的回應。許多環游世界的旅行者發現，他們能給予的最好的禮物是時間和友誼。每個人都需要被認可、被關注、被感激以及被愛。

在一些窮困的國家旅游時，我目睹了很多種與乞丐打交道的方式。游客們對貧窮最常見的回應就是忽視他們，把視線轉移到其他地方。我曾見到有人惱怒地推開乞丐伸過來的手。還有一些人或許會匆匆地把一些硬幣丟進哀求的手掌里，然后趕緊逃開，生怕會有其他20個乞丐突然出現在自己眼前。

但是，我覺得按照英國作家約翰·庫伯·博伊斯所說的那樣去生活是值得一試的，他說：“如果一個人不能毫無偏見地帶著深厚、極大的興趣看待每一個個體，那他就不能自認為是十足的文明人。”

我曾經在印度普虛卡駱駝節上看見一個沒有腿的人坐在路邊。當時我剛剛錄完普虛卡舞者表演的異域音樂，正要返回帳篷，路上正用錄音機重放著那些音樂。這個人的笑容深深吸引了我坐過去，我們開始用手語和笑聲交談起來。當你周游世界時，這些都是要學會的。

模仿過旋轉的裙子和棒槌之后，我給他演示了一下我的錄音機是如何工作的。他示意我把錄音機給他看看。我猶豫了一下，但只是一下而已。仔細看過錄音機之后，他開始唱歌，那首歌很動聽，令人難以忘懷，他示意我把歌錄下來，作為我們在一起的時光的記憶。

不久之前，我們是完全的陌生人。突然間，這個世界里共存的關系，讓我們緊緊相連在一種瞬間的友誼當中。我們互相交換名字時，他的眼睛在發光。我和韋德在一起的經歷驗證了斯堪的納維亞的一句格言：“每個人心里都有一位國王。當你想和國王交談時，他就會出現。”

我明白了，那些被認為是世界上最無助的人卻是如此的充滿仁慈，他們懷著渴望被認同的心靈——并隨時準備回應他人。

與平凡的人接觸，我的生活一直被他們充實著。每次我這么做時，我都會發現我所收獲的遠遠超過金錢的價值。我再一次堅信，每個人都是有價值的——并且值得你去了解。

注釋

[1]inadequate[in'?dikwit] a.不充分的，不夠格的

[2]precarious[pri'k??ri?s] a.不穩的，危險的

[3]beseeching[bi'si:t?i?] a.懇求似的

誰能拒絕十二次微笑

Who Can Refuse 12 Smiles

◎ Sandra Rabe

A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off.She told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes.

Thirty minutes later,when the passenger's ring for service sounded,the air hostess flew in a flurry.She was kept so busy that she forgot to deliver him the water.As a result,the passenger was held up to take his medicine.She hurried over to him with a cup of water,but he refused it.

In the following hours on the flight,each time the stewardess passed by the passenger she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not.But the passenger never paid heed to her.

When he was going to get off the plane,the passenger asked the stewardess to hand him the passengers’ booklet.She was very s ad.She knew that he would write down sharp words,but with a smile she handed it to him.Off the plane,she opened the booklet,and cracked a smile,for the passenger put it,“On the flight,you asked me whether I need help or not for 12 times in all.How can I refuse your 12 sincere smiles?”

That's right!Who can refuse your 12 sincere smiles from a person?

美麗語錄

Virtue is bold,and goodness never fearful.

美德是勇敢的，善良從來無所畏懼。

飛機剛剛起飛，一位乘客告訴空姐自己需要一杯水吃藥。空姐答應10分鐘后把水送來。

半小時之后，那位乘客要求服務的鈴聲響起，空姐慌了神。她太忙了，以至于忘記把水給乘客送去。結果就是乘客耽誤了吃藥。她急忙給他送去一杯水，但他拒絕了。

接下來的幾個小時飛行中，空姐每次經過那位乘客都會面帶微笑問他是否需要幫助。但那位乘客從不理睬她。

當乘客要下飛機時，他要求空姐把乘客意見簿拿過來。空姐很傷心。她認為他會寫批評的話，但仍面帶微笑把意見簿遞給他。

下了飛機，她打開意見簿，臉上綻開了笑容，因為乘客是這樣寫的：“在飛機上，你一共問了我12次是否需要幫助。我怎么能夠拒絕你12次真誠的微笑呢？”

是這樣的！誰能夠拒絕你12次真誠的微笑呢？

圣誕的早晨

Christmas Morning

◎ Jayne Dough

A light drizzle[1] was falling as my sister Jill and I ran out of the Methodist Church,eager to get home and play with the presents that Santa had left for us and our baby sister,Sharon.Across the street from the church was a Pan American gas station where the Greyhound bus stopped.It was closed for Christmas,but I noticed a family standing outside the locked door,huddled[2] under the narrow overhang in an attempt to keep dry.I wondered briefly why they were there but then forgot about them as I raced to keep up with Jill.

Once we got home,there was barely time to enjoy our presents.We had to go off to our grandparents’ house for our annual Christmas dinner.As we drove down the highway through town,I noticed that the family was still there,standing outside the closed gas station.

My father was driving very slowly down the highway.The closer we got to the turnoff for my grandparents’ house,the slower the car went.Suddenly,my father U-turned in the middle of the road and said,“I can't stand it!”

“What?” asked my mother.

“it's those people back there at the Pan Am,standing in the rain.They've got children.it's Christmas.I can't stand it.”

When my father pulled into the service station,I saw that there were five of them:the parents and three children two girls and a small boy.

My father rolled down his window.“Merry Christma!” he said.

“Howdy!” the man replied.He was very tall and had to stoop slightly to peer into the car.

Jill,Sharon,and I stared at the children,and they stared back at us.

“You waiting on the bus?” my father asked.

The man said that they were.They were going to Birmingham,where he had a brother and prospects of a job.

“Well,that bus isn't going to come along for several hours,and you're getting wet standing here.Winborn's just a couple miles up the ro ad.They've got a shed with a cover there,and some benches,” my father said.“Why don't you all get in the car and I'll run you up there?”

The man thought about it for a moment,and then he beckoned to his family.They climbed into the car.They had no luggage,only the clothes they were wearing.

Once they settled in,my father looked back over his shoulder and asked the children if Santa had found them yet.Three glum faces mutely[3] gave him his answer.

“Well,I didn't think so,” my father said,winking at my mother,“because when I saw Santa this morning,he told me that he was having trouble finding you,and he asked me if he could leave your toys at my house.We'll just go get them before I take you to the bus stop.”

All at once,the three children's faces lit up,and they began to bounce around in the back seat,laughing and chattering.

When we got out of the car at our house,the three children ran through the front door and straight to the toys that were spread out under our Christmas tree.One of the girls spied Jill's doll and immediately hugged it to her.I remember that the little boy grabbed Sharon's ball.And the other girl picked up something of mine.All this happened a long time ago,but the memory of it remains clear.That was the Christmas when my sisters and I learned the joy of making others happy.

My mother noticed that the middle child was wearing a short-sleeved dress,so she gave the girl Jill's only sweater to wear.

My father invited them to join us at our grandparents’ for Christmas dinner,but the parents refused.Even when we all tried to talk them into coming,they were firm in their decision.

Back in the car,on the way to Winborn,my father asked the man if he had money for bus fare.

His brother had sent tickets,the man said.

My father reached into his pocket and pulled out two dollars,which was all he had left until his next payday.He pressed the money into the man's hand.The man tried to give it back,but my father insisted.“It'll be late when you get to Birmingham,and these children will be hungry before then.Take it.I've been broke before,and I know what it's like when you can't feed your family.”

We left them there at the bus stop in Winborn.As we drove away,I watched out the window as long as I could,look back at the little girl hugging her new doll.

美麗語錄

Personality is to man what perfume is to a flower.

品格之于人，猶如芳香之于花。

天空正下著細雨，我和姐姐吉爾從衛理公會教堂沖出來，一心只想快點回家，玩圣誕老人送給我們和小妹莎倫的玩具禮物。長途汽車會在教堂對面的泛美加油站停靠。因為那天是圣誕節，加油站關門了，但我卻發現有一家人站在緊鎖的加油站門外。他們蜷縮在狹窄的檐篷下，盡量避免被雨淋濕。我的腦海中忽然閃現出一個問題：他們為什么要站在那兒呢？但在追趕吉爾時，這個疑問很快便被拋至腦后了。

當我們到家后，幾乎沒有什么時間去盡情擺弄禮物，因為馬上要去爺爺奶奶家共進一年一度的圣誕大餐。我們的車路經剛才那個街區時，我看到那家人仍站在緊閉的加油站門外。

爸爸沿著高速公路開得很慢，越接近去爺爺奶奶家的岔路口，車子就越慢。突然，爸爸在公路中間來了個一百八十度大轉彎，原路返回，他說：“我實在不忍心！”

“什么？”媽媽問他。

“那幾個站在泛美加油站門外淋雨的人，他們還帶著小孩呢。今天是圣誕節，我怎么能忍心呢。”

爸爸把車停在了加油站旁邊，我看見那一家共有五口人：父母和三個孩子——兩個女孩，一個小男孩。

爸爸把車窗搖了下來，對他們說：“圣誕快樂！”

“你好！”那個男人答道。他個子很高，稍微彎下腰來朝我們車里看。

我和吉爾、莎倫盯著那幾個小孩，他們也瞪眼看著我們。

“你們是在等車嗎？”爸爸問。

男人說是，他們準備去伯明翰，他有個哥哥在那邊，而且希望能在那找份工作。

“嗯，汽車至少得幾個小時后才能來，站在這等，你們都會淋濕的。往前兩英里是溫邦車站，那兒有個遮棚，可以避雨，還有長凳可以坐。”爸爸說，“要不你們上車，我把你們捎到那兒吧？”

男人想了一下，然后示意家人過來。他們鉆進車里，除了身上穿的衣服，沒有任何行李。

等他們坐好了，爸爸回過頭來問那幾個孩子，圣誕老人有沒有找到他們。三張憂郁的臉無聲地回答了他。

“嗯，我不這么認為，”爸爸邊說邊眨眼暗示媽媽，“因為早上我遇到圣誕老人了，他說找不到你們，就問我是否能把給你們的禮物先寄存在我家。現在咱們就去拿禮物吧，一會兒我再送你們去車站。”

三個孩子的臉頓時神采飛揚，開始在后座上歡呼雀躍，笑笑嚷嚷起來。

到了我家，一下車，那三個孩子穿過大門就直奔圣誕樹下的禮物。其中一個小女孩看到了吉爾的洋娃娃，立刻把它抱在懷里。我記得那小男孩把莎倫的小球抓去了，而另一個女孩則拿走了我的一件禮物。這是很久以前發生的事了，至今我仍記憶猶新。因為那個圣誕節，我和我的姐妹們感受到了使別人快樂的愉悅。

媽媽看到他們家老二穿的裙子是短袖的，便把吉爾唯一的一件毛衣送給了她。

爸爸邀請他們一起去爺爺奶奶家吃圣誕大餐，但他們夫婦拒絕了。不管我們怎么勸說，他們還是堅持他們的決定。

回到車上，返回溫邦的路上，爸爸問那個男人是否有買車票的錢。

他說他哥哥把車票寄來了。

爸爸把手伸進了口袋里，掏出了僅有的兩美元，那是我們熬到下次發工資前的所有錢。他把錢塞到那個男人的手里，男人試圖把錢推回來，但爸爸堅持要他收下。“等你們到伯明翰時已經很晚了，路上孩子們會餓的。收下吧，我以前也曾一貧如洗，我理解，讓家人挨餓的滋味很難受。”

把他們送到溫邦的車站后，我們便離開了。當我們驅車離開時，我透過車窗望了他們好久，看著那個小女孩抱著她的新玩偶。

注釋

[1]drizzle['drizl] n.毛毛雨

[2]huddled['h?dld] v.擠成一團，依偎（huddle的過去式和過去分詞）

[3]mutely[mju:tli] ad.無言地，不發聲地

愛莫大焉

No Greater Love

◎ Col.John W.Mansur

Despite all the life danger,with one selfless act from one common person,someone is saved,A hero is made.

～Norman Stephens

I heard this story when I was in Vietnam,and it was told to me as fact.I have no way of knowing for sure that it is true,but I do know that stranger things have happened in war.

Whatever their planned target,the mortar rounds landed in an orphanage[1] run by a missionary group in the small Vietnamese village.The missionaries and one or two children were killed outright[2],and several more children were wounded,including one young girl,about eight years old.

People from the village requested medical help from a neighboring town that had radio contact with the American forces.Finally,an American Navy doctor and nurse arrived in a jeep with only their medical kits.They established that the girl was the most critically injured.Without quick action,she would die of shock and loss of blood.

A transfusion was imperative[3],and a donor with a matching blood type was required.A quick test showed that neither American had the correct type,but several of the uninjured orphans did.

The doctor spoke some pidgin Vietnamese,and the nurse a smattering[4] of high school French.Using that combination,together with much impromptu sign language,they tried to explain to their young,frightened audience that unless they could replace some of the girl's lost blood,she would certainly die.Then they asked if anyone would be willing to give blood to help.

Their request was met with wide-eyed silence.After several long moments,a small hand slowly and waveringly went up,dropped back down,and then went up again.

“Oh,thank you,” the nurse said in French.“What is your name?”

“Hen.” came the reply.

Hen was quickly laid on a pallet,his arm swab bed with alcohol,and a needle inserted in his vein.Through this ordeal Hen lay stiff[5] and silent.

After a moment,he let out a shuddering sob,quickly covering his face with his free hand.

“Is it hurting,Hen?” the doctor asked.Hen shook his head,but after a few moments another sob escaped,and once more he tried to cover up his crying.Again the doctor asked him if the needle hurt,and again Hen shook his he ad.

But now his occasional sobs gave way to a steady,silent crying,his eyes screwed tightly shut,his fist in his mouth to stifle[6] his sobs.

The medical team was concerned.Something was obviously very wrong.At this point,a Vietnamese nurse arrived to help.Seeing the little one's distress,she spoke to him rapidly in Vietnamese,listened to his reply and answered him in a soothing voice.

After a moment,the patient stopped crying and looked questioningly at the Vietnamese nurse.When she nodded,a look of great relief spread over his face.

Glancing up,the nurse said quietly to the Americans,“He thought he was dying.He misunderstood you.He thought you had asked him to give all his blood so the little girl could live.”

“But why would he be willing to do that?” asked the Navy nurse.

The Vietnamese nurse repeated the question boy,who answered simply,“She's my friend.”

Greater love has no man than this—that he will lay down his life for a friend.

不管一切危險，由于一個普通人的無私行動，有人得救了，英雄就應運而生。

——斯蒂芬斯

我是在越南時聽到這個故事的，而且有人說它是真事。雖然我無法確認它是否屬實，但我知道，在戰爭中，比這更離奇的事情都發生過。

一次美軍的例常炮擊，擊中了越南小村莊里的一所孤兒院，這是由一個傳教團體創辦的。那兒的眾多傳教士和一兩個孤兒在炮擊中喪命，還有更多的孩子在暴亂中受傷，其中包括一個8歲左右的小女孩。

村里的人請求附近一個小鎮給予醫療救助，而該鎮同美軍部隊之間有無線電聯系。最后，一名美國海軍的軍醫同他的護士帶著他們的醫療器材，乘一輛吉普車到達了該村。他們確診這個小女孩的傷勢最嚴重，若不立即采取措施，她就會死于休克和失血。

必須立即為她輸血，而且要找到一個血型同她相匹配的獻血者。經過快速的化驗，這兩個美國人的血型都與小女孩不匹配，幸而有好幾名未受傷的孤兒的血型都符合要求。

這位軍醫能講幾句洋涇浜的越南語，護士也能講幾句半生不熟的法語。二位將他們僅有的語言技能加到一起，再加上一些即興手勢，努力地向這些嚇壞了的孩子解釋——除非他們能夠獻出一些血，來補充這個小女孩失掉的血，否則她一定會死去。然后他們問孩子們，有誰愿意獻血來救活這個孩子。

他們得到的回答卻是孩子們睜大的眼睛和沉默。過了好久好久，才有一只小手慢慢吞吞地、猶猶豫豫地舉起來，接著又放下去，接著再一次舉起來。

“哦，謝謝你，”護士用法語說，“你叫什么名字？”

“恒。”孩子答道。

恒很快被放到一張簡陋的小床上，護士用酒精擦洗了他的胳膊之后，將一根針頭插進了他的靜脈。在這個嚴酷的考驗中，恒一直僵硬地躺著，默不作聲。

過了一會兒，他發出了一聲戰栗的抽泣，迅速地用另外一只手掩住了自己的臉。

“痛嗎，恒？”醫生問道。恒搖了搖頭。可是，沒過多久，他又哽咽了一聲，又一次竭力掩蓋自己的哭泣。醫生再一次問他針頭是否扎痛了他，恒卻再一次搖了搖頭。

可是，這時他斷斷續續的抽泣已經無法克制，變成了一種持續的、無聲的哭泣。他緊閉雙目，把小拳頭塞進嘴里，以控制自己的抽泣。

醫生和護士感到十分不安，顯然有什么出了錯。這時，終于有一位越南護士來支援了。當她看見孩子的痛苦狀態時，她很急切地用越南語對他說了幾句話，在聽了孩子的回答之后，她又用溫柔的聲音撫慰了孩子。

過了一會兒，小男孩停止了哭泣，然后詫異地看著這位越南護士。當護士點頭時，一種巨大的釋然才在孩子的臉上慢慢地展開。

越南護士抬起頭來，看了一眼兩個美國人，輕聲地告訴他們：“他剛才以為自己要死了。他誤解了你們的意思。他以為你們要他把自己所有的血都抽出來，才能救活那個小女孩呢。”

“但是，為什么他還愿意獻血呢？”海軍護士問道。

越南護士又向這個男孩重復了這個問題。男孩簡單地答道：“因為她是我的朋友。”

沒有人有這么偉大的愛——肯為一個朋友犧牲自己的生命。

注釋

[1]orphanage['?:f?nid?] n.孤兒院

[2]outright['aut?rait] ad.全部，徹底，當場，立刻

[3]imperative[im'peretiv] a.必要的，緊急的，極重要的

[4]smattering['sm?t?ri?] n.一知半解的知識

[5]stiff[st?f] a.僵硬的；呆板的；生硬的

[6]stifle['stai?l] v.（使）窒息；鎮壓；扼殺

天使的故事

A Story of the Angels

◎ Jef Franssen

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's[1] guestroom.Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.As they made their bed on the hard floor,the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.When the younger angel asked why,the older angel replied,“Things aren't always what they seem.”

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor,but very hospitable[2] farmer and his wife.After sharing what little food they had,the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.When the sun came up the next morning,the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.Their only cow,whose milk had been their sole income,lay dead in the field.The younger angel was infuriated[3] and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?The first man had everything,yet you helped him,she accused.The second family had little but was willing to share everything,and you let the cow die.

“Things aren't always what they seem,” the older angel replied.“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion,I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.Since the owner was so obsessed with greed[4] and unwilling to share his good fortune,I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.”

“Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed,the angel of death came for his wife.I gave him the cow inste ad.Things aren't always what they seem.”

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should.If you have faith,you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage.You might not know it until some time later ...

Some people come into our lives and quickly go ...

Some people become friends and stay awhile ...

Leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts ...

And we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

That's why it's called the present!

I think this life is special ...Live and savor every moment ...

This is not a dress rehearsal!

Take this little angel and keep her close to you and she is your guardian angel sent to watch over you.

美麗語錄

Every single thing you do,right now,affects your future.

現在你所做的每件小事，都會影響到你的未來。

兩個旅途中的天使停在一戶富足的人家借宿。這家人很粗魯地拒絕讓天使住在家里的客房中。他們把天使安排在冰冷的地下室的一個小角落里。當他們在堅硬的地板上鋪床時，老天使發現墻上有一個洞，便順手把洞補好了。當年輕的天使問其原因時，老天使回答：“事情并不總是如表面看上去那樣。”

第二天晚上，這對天使到了一戶很窮但很好客的農夫家中。在與天使分享了夫婦二人僅有的一點兒食物后，這對夫婦讓天使睡自己的床，讓他們能好好地休息一晚。第二天太陽升起的時候，天使發現農夫和妻子滿眼的淚水——他們唯一的奶牛死在了牧場里，而這是他們僅有的收入來源。年輕的天使怒不可遏，質問老天使怎么不阻止這一切發生。第一個人擁有一切，但你幫了他，第二戶人家很窮卻愿意和人分享一切，而你沒有阻止他們的奶牛死去。

“事情并不總是如表面看上去那樣，”老天使回答道，“當我們待在大房子的地下室里時，我注意到那面墻的洞里藏有金子。因為那家主人如此貪婪，而且不愿意和人分享他的錢財，所以我就把洞封上了，這樣他就找不到金子了。”

“當我們昨晚睡在農夫的床上時，死亡之神來了并想帶走農夫的妻子。我讓他帶走了奶牛以代替她。所以事情并不總是如表面看上去那樣。”

有時事情的表面并不像應該發生的那樣，而以上就是實際所發生的情況。如果你有誠心，你只需要堅信付出必定會有回報。只是需要過一段時間，你才能發現這一點……

有些人只是我們生命中的匆匆過客……

有些成為了朋友，并在我們的生命中停留片刻……

在我們的心中留下了美麗的足跡……

我們絕不是一成不變的，因為我們交了一位好朋友！

昨天已成歷史。

明天還是謎團。

今天是一份禮物。

這就是為什么今天被稱為禮物。[5]

我相信此生是特別的……享受并品味每一時刻……

生活不是一場時裝彩排！

帶著這位小天使，和她親密地在一起，她是專門派來照看你的守護天使。

注釋

[1]mansion['m?n?n] n.宅第；公館

[2]hospitable[h?'spit?bl] a.好客的；熱情友好的

[3]infuriated[in'fju?ri:?eitid] v.使大怒，激怒（infuriate的過去式和過去分詞）

[4]greed[gri:d] n.貪心；貪婪

[5]英語中“現在”也有“禮物”之意。

一杯牛奶的溫暖

With One Glass of Milk

◎ Davis,Audrey W.

It is not enough to do good;one must do it the right way.

～John Morley

One day,a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had one dime left.He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.

However,he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk.He drank it slowly,and then asked,“How much do I owe you?”

“You don't owe me anything,” she replied.“Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said,“Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house,he not only felt stronger physically,but it also increased his faith in God and the human race.He was about to give up and quit before this point.Years later the young woman became critically[1] ill.The local doctors were baffled[2].They finally sent her to the big city,where specialists can be called in to study her rare disease.Dr.Howard Kelly,now famous was called in for the consultation.When he heard the name of the town she came from,a strange light filled his eyes.Immediately,he rose and went down through the hospital hall into her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her.He recognized her at once.He went back to the consultation room[3] and determined to do his best to save her life.From that day on,he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle,the battle was won.Dr.Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.He looked at it and then wrote something on the side.The bill was sent to her room.She was afraid to open it,because she was positive that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off.Finally she looked,and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention.She read these words ...

“Paid in full with a glass of milk.”

（Signed）Dr.Howard Kelly

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently,“Thank You,God.Your love has spread through human hearts and hands.”

人不僅要做好事，更要以正確的方式做好事。

——喬琳·莫莉

一天，一個可憐的小男孩兒為湊足學費正挨家挨戶地推銷商品。他發現身上只剩一角錢了。他很餓，所以他決定從下一家討口飯吃。

然而，當一位年輕貌美的女子打開門時，他卻緊張得不知所措。他沒有要吃的，只是乞求給他一口水喝。女子看到小男孩兒饑餓的樣子，頓生憐憫之心，就倒了一大杯牛奶遞給他。男孩慢慢地喝光了牛奶，問道：“我需要付您多少錢呢？”

“你不必付錢給我，”女子答道，“媽媽教育我說，愛心善舉，不求回報。”男孩說：“那么我就由衷地向您說聲謝謝！”當霍華德·凱利離開這所房子時，他覺得渾身充滿了力量，也對上帝和整個人類充滿了信心。而原本，他正打算放棄。

數年之后，那位女子得了重病，當地醫生對此束手無策。最后，他們把她送到大城市去醫治，由專家會診，研究她這種罕見病癥。著名的霍華德·凱利醫生也參與了醫療方案的制訂。當他得知這位病人來自那個城鎮時，一個奇怪的念頭在他的腦海中閃過，他馬上起身，穿過醫院的大廳直奔她的病房。

身著白大褂的凱利醫生走進了病房，一眼便認出了那個女子，她正是他的恩人。回到會診室后，他下定決心一定要竭盡全力挽救她的生命。從那天起，他就特別關照她的病情。

經過長期艱苦的努力，手術終獲成功。凱利醫生要求把醫藥費結算單送到他那兒，他看了一下，便在上面簽了字。當結算單送到女子的病房時，她甚至不敢打開來看，因為她知道這醫藥費一定極其昂貴，或許她要用整個余生來償還。最后，她還是鼓足勇氣打開了看，她注意到單子旁邊的一行小字，不禁小聲地念起來：

“醫藥費繳足：一杯牛奶。”

霍華德·凱利醫生（簽名）

喜悅的淚水溢出了她的眼眶，她默默地祈禱著：“感謝您，上帝！您的愛已經通過人類的心靈和雙手傳遞開來。”

注釋

[1]critically['kritikli] ad.批判性地；嚴重地；危機地

[2]baffled['b?fld] v.使困難；使為難（baffle的過去式和過去分詞）

[3]consultation room <體>診察室，會議室

令人心醉的微笑

The Sweetest Smile

◎ Goldie

Well like most authors,I am one who does not believe in love at first sight until I experienced it myself.

It all started like this,I was with a few friends at McDonalds,after my lecture from school,we were chatting and laughing at some stupid stories that one of my friends told.

Just then,a group of girls came and took their seats,there was this girl,quite outstanding for that striking red top she was wearing and she had this sweet smile.

Then,while they were at the counter,ordering their food,I noticed something,they all had disability,and they could not talk.But,this was not considered a disability to me;I walked up to them,and asked for her number,well,she was surprised.

But she eventually gave me her address and her name was Elaine,she did not have a phone at home and there was no possibility to talk to her.

After a few days,I sent her a letter,asking her out on a date the following Saturday.Whether she agreed to the date or was it rejected,I could not tell for I did not know.

We were supposed to meet at the Lido cinema to catch a movie;I waited for around five minutes then she appeared.She was wearing that same smile that caught me.

In the cinema,we saw the show “ICE AGE”.In order to communicate,I needed to get a pen and paper.

I asked her about how she felt about me.She told me she was very happy,but at the same time,she was worried as she could not define whether my love was out of sympathy or was it from my heart.

From that moment on,I have been asking myself the question,until a month later after my exams,I finally made up my mind—I was really in love with her,not for her disability I sympathize.

I went to her home,which made her quite surprised;I pulled her out of her home and ran to the park in front of her block of flats.I looked at her and wrote to her how I felt;she looked at me with those big black eyes,those that could take your soul away if you were staring at them for a long time.

She took the pen and wrote this sentence,“I love you too,but now that I'm assured that you love me for what I am and not out of sympathy,I feel that I will not regret the decision.”

Now,we have been together for two years and although we have not planned to get married,I have never once quarrel with her,not even on paper and I never will ...

美麗語錄

One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life.That word is love.

有一個詞可以讓我們擺脫生活中所有的負擔和痛苦，那就是“愛”。

同大部分作家一樣，直到我親身體驗了一見鐘情的魅力，我才相信了它的存在。

事情是這樣開始的。放學之后，我和幾個朋友在麥當勞吃飯。一個朋友講了幾個笑話，我們一邊大笑一邊談論著。

就在那時，一群女孩走進來坐下了。其中有一個女孩非常醒目，她穿了一件引人注目的紅色上衣，臉上帶著甜美的微笑，整個人都光彩奪目。

當她們站在柜臺前點餐時，我才注意到她們都有缺陷——她們不能說話。但我并不認為這是殘疾；我向她們走過去，并問那個女孩要了電話號碼，當時，她有些驚訝。

但她最終給了我她的地址，她叫伊萊恩，她家里沒有電話，況且我們之間也不可能交談，所以也沒那個必要。

過了幾天，我寄給她一封信，約她下個星期六出來玩。我也不能確定她是否同意約會。

我們本來約好在里多電影院看電影；我等了大概五分鐘，她來了。她仍舊帶著那張吸引著我的甜蜜的笑臉，讓人沉醉。

我們在電影院里看了《冰河世紀》。我需要用到紙和筆，才方便與她交流。

我問她對我的感覺如何。她告訴我說她感到很幸福，但同時她又很擔心，擔心的是她自己并不能確定，我的愛是出于同情還是出自真心。

從那時起，我就一直問自己那個問題，直到在我考試結束的一個月之后，我打定了主意——我是真的愛她，而不是出于對她缺陷的同情。

我去了她家，這件事讓她很吃驚；我把她從家里拉出來，一起跑去公寓樓前的公園里。我看著她，并把我的感受寫給她看；她用一雙又大又黑的眼睛盯著我，假設是你盯著這雙眼睛的話，你也會覺得整個靈魂都被帶走了。

她拿出筆寫了這句話，“我也愛你，但既然我確信了你愛的就是我這個人，而不是出于同情心，我覺得自己并不會因為這個決定而后悔。”

如今我們在一起兩年了，雖然我們還沒決定結婚，但我從來都沒和她吵過架，在紙上都沒有過，將來也不會……

樓梯上的陌生人

A Stranger at the Escalator

◎ Margery Guest

A brief act of kindness brings an unexpected insight.

I was shopping at a department store and had just boarded the down escalator when I noticed a woman standing to the side.She looked about 65,and her expression told me she was scared.

I turned toward her and asked,“Do you need help?”

As the escalator continued moving I heard the woman replies softly,“I'm afraid.” There was a hint of incredulity[1] in her voice.

“Want me to come back and get you?” I called to her.She nodded.But by the time I reached her,the woman had reconsidered.“I don't think I can do it.” she said.

I was suddenly aware that I had made a far greater investment than I expected.“I know we can do it,” I said.“I can hold on to you.”

She looked down at the beast.Then her eyes came back to mine,looking doubtful.“This has never happened to me before,” she said,as much to herself as to me.

I felt that her sudden fear had to do with the escalator's mechanical nature,its basic inhuman untrustworthiness.I took her arm.“Shall we?” She made a little sound of alarm as we stepped on,but we'd passed the point of no return.

She relaxed slightly as the stairs moved us downward.“I don't understand this at all.” she said.As we neared the bottom,her grip tightened again,but we did fine.“I'm so grateful ...” she began.“It was nothing,” I said,“I was happy to do it.”

Happy,yes.I do very little to help others.I am busy caring for a family and working full time.For a brief moment,I had a flash of insight into why someone would become a nurse or a social worker or a minister.When I helped the woman,I felt pure and whole,purposeful[2].It was a happier moment than I'd had in weeks.

美麗語錄

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

評價每一天，不是看你收獲了多少，而是看你播種了什么。

一次簡單的善舉卻帶來了意想不到的領悟。

我到一家百貨商店買東西，就在我踏上自動扶梯剛要下樓時，突然注意到旁邊站著一位婦女。她看上去差不多有65歲，她臉上的表情告訴我她嚇壞了。

我轉過身向她問道：“需要幫忙嗎？”

自動扶梯載著我繼續向下移動，我只聽到她溫和地低聲回答說：“我很害怕。”聲音中流露出一絲遲疑。

“要我回來幫你嗎？”我沖著她叫道。她點了點頭。我又回到了樓上，可那個女人卻改變了主意。“我不行。”她說。

直到這時，我才突然意識到這件事并不像我原想的那樣簡單。“我知道我們能行，”我說，“我會攙扶著你。”

她低下頭，看著那個龐然大物，然后她轉回頭來看著我，目光中滿是疑慮。“我以前從未遇到過這種情況。”她說道，既像是在對我說，又像是在自言自語。

我覺得她這種突如其來的恐懼與自動扶梯的機械性質有關——它歸根結底是非人性的東西，很難給人以安全感。我拉起她的胳臂，問道：“可以嗎？”我們邁上扶梯時，她輕輕地尖叫了一聲。然而，既然我們已踏上了扶梯，也就不能再回頭了。

直到扶梯載著我們下行了一段，她才略微放松下來。“我一點也不明白這種東西。”她說。我們接近扶梯底部時，她又一次緊緊握住我，但我們順利走下了扶梯。“我不知怎么謝你才好……”她開口說道。“這沒什么，”我說，“我很高興這樣做。”

我很高興，的確如此。平時我很少幫助別人，整日忙于工作和照顧家庭。就在這一瞬間，我突然明白了為什么有人會去做護士、社會工作者或牧師。當我幫助這位婦女的時候，我感到我的生活是純粹、完整和有意義的。這是我幾周以來最快樂的時刻。

注釋

[1]incredulity[?inkri'dju:liti] n.不輕信，懷疑

[2]purposeful['p?:p?sf?l] a.意味深長的，有目的的

生命中的美麗瞬間

The Most Beautiful Moment in Life

◎ Andy Rooney

That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

That when you're in love.It shows.

That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

That being kind is more important than being right.

That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

That no matter how serious your life requires you to be,everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

That money doesn't buy class.

That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

That the Lord didn't do it all in one day.What makes me think I can?

That when you plan to get even with someone,you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

That love,not time,heals all wounds.

That the easiest way to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

美麗語錄

Whatever you give to life,it gives you back.Do not hate anybody.The hatred which comes out from you will someday come back to you.Love others.And love will come back to you.

你給予生活的，它都將回饋于你：不要憎恨任何人，那憎恨終有一天會回來；愛眾人吧，終有一天，那愛也會回到你身邊。

世界上最好的課堂在老人的腳下。

當你墜入愛河時，就會表露無遺。

讓一個孩子在你的臂彎里入睡，你會體會到世間最平和的感覺。

善良比真理更為重要。

永遠不要拒絕一個孩子送給你的禮物。

當無力給予他人幫助時，就為他祈禱。

不論生活要求你要變得多嚴肅，每個人都需要一個能夠一起嬉戲的朋友。

有時候，一個人想要的只是一只可握的手和一顆理解的心。

金錢買不到風度。

每天的小小驚奇，讓我們的生命如此多姿。

人在堅硬的外殼下，也都渴求著被愛，被賞識。

上帝并沒有在一天內完成所有的事，我又憑什么認為自己可能呢？

如果你想報復某人，只會讓那個人繼續傷害你。

治愈一切傷痛的并非是時間，而是愛。

促進自己成長的最簡單方法是與比自己更優秀的人為伴。

只有深愛一個人時才會認為他是完美的。

微笑是改善容貌的最不昂貴的方法。

愛是無條件的

Love Is Unconditional

◎ Swami Vivekananda

I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me.Once when we were sitting at the edge of a swimming pool,she filled the palm of her hand with a little water and held it before me,and said this：

You see this water carefully contained on my hand?It symbolizes love.As long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there,it will always be there.However,if you attempt to close your fingers around it and try to posses it,it will spill through the first cracks it finds.

This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love ...They try to posses it,they demand,they expect ...And just like the water spilling out of your hand,love will retrieve from you.

For love is meant to be free,you cannot change its nature.

If you have people you love,allow them to be free beings.Give and don't expect.Advise,but don't order.Ask,but never demand.It might sound simple,but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice.It is the secret to true Love.To truly practice it,you must sincerely feel no expectations from those who you love,and yet an unconditional caring.

美麗語錄

Never frown,even when you are sad,because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

縱然傷心，也不要愁眉不展，因為你不知誰會愛上你的笑容。

我曾有個朋友，我們的關系很親密。有一次我們坐在游泳池邊上，她往手掌里盛了點兒水，捧在我面前，說：

你仔細看我手上這水了嗎？那代表愛。只要你充滿關愛地彎曲著你的手指，并允許它保持在那兒，它會永遠在那兒。但是，如果你試圖把你的手指在它周圍合起并試圖占有它，它會通過它找到的縫溢出去。

這是人們在遇到愛時犯的最大錯誤……他們試圖占有它，他們要求，他們期待，那樣就像溢出你的手掌的水一樣，愛會從你身邊撤退。

因為愛意味著自由隨意，你不能改變它的本性。

如果你有愛的人，允許他們自由隨意地存在。給予而不指望；建議而不命令；請求而不要求；可能聽起來簡單，但這需要一輩子去實踐。這就是真愛的秘訣。真正去實踐它，你必須對那些你愛的人沒有期望，并給予無條件的關愛。