佚名
“可要是我又把胳膊摔断了怎么办?”五岁的女儿颤抖着嘴唇问我。我跪下来,扶住自行车,看着她的眼睛。我知道她很想学骑车。每次她的朋友们骑着脚踏车路过我们家时,她都有强烈的失落感。但自从上次骑车摔断胳膊后,她就畏惧了。
“噢,宝贝,”我说,“我确信你不会摔断另一条胳膊。”
“但那有可能,不是吗?”
“是有可能,”我承认,想努力找一些能说服她的理由。每到此时,我就希望有人能帮我找到合适的语言,解决女儿遇到的问题。但是,经历一场不幸的婚姻后,单身母亲的苦楚,我倒也能欣然接受了。我曾坚定地告诉给我介绍男朋友的人,我要单身一辈子。
“我不想骑车了。”女儿边说边跳下自行车。
我们走到路边,坐在树旁。
“难道你不想和朋友们一起骑车吗?”我问她。
“当然想。”她点点头。
“我以为你想明年就能骑车上学呢。”我补充道。
“我是这么想的。”她说着,声音几乎颤抖起来。
“宝贝,你知道吗?”我说,“无论做什么事都有风险,汽车失事会折断胳膊,再坐车也会害怕。跳绳能摔断胳膊,做体操也能,难道你也不想练早操了吗?”
“当然不是。”女儿坚定地说。然后她站起来,鼓起勇气决定再试试。我扶着车尾,直到她有胆量说:“放手!”
整个下午,我都在公园看着勇敢的女儿克服心中的恐惧,并暗自庆幸自己是个独当一面的单身母亲。
回家的路上,我们推着自行车走在人行横道上,她问起昨晚无意中听到的我和母亲的谈话。
“昨晚你为什么和姥姥吵架呢?”
母亲和别人一样关心我的婚姻,总是给我介绍男朋友。我总是拒绝和她物色的人见面,她认为史蒂夫很适合我。
“没什么。”我跟女儿讲。
她耸耸肩:“姥姥说她就希望你找个爱人。”
“姥姥想再找个人来伤我的心。”我突然说道,我很气愤,母亲竟把这事也跟女儿讲。
“但是,妈妈……”
“你还小,不懂。”我对她说。
她沉默了一会儿,然后抬起头,小声地说了句话,使我陷入了沉思。
“这样看,爱情和摔断胳膊是不同的了。”
我无言以对,我们没再说话,默默地走完了余下的路。到家后,我给母亲打了个电话,责备她不该把这事说给女儿听。接着,像下午我的小宝贝那样,我克服了心理障碍,答应去见史蒂夫。
史蒂夫很适合我,不到一年,我们结婚了。看来母亲和女儿是对的。
■心灵小语
在人生的旅途中,每次的阻碍和挫折都是一道风景。当你面对它的时候,放松心情,勇敢地接受生活的挑战,克服障碍,前面迎接你的将会是一片风和日丽的好景色。
Love+Is+Just+Like+a+Broken+Arm
Anonymous
“But+what+if+I+break+my+arm+again?”+my+five+yearold+daughter+asked,+her+lower+lip+trembling.+I+knelt+holding+onto+her+bike+and+looked+her+right+in+the+eyes.+I+knew+how+much+she+wanted+to+learn+to+ride.+How+often+she+felt+left+out+when+her+friends+pedaled+by+our+house.+Yet+ever+since+she’d+fallen+off+her+bike+and+broken+her+arm,+she’d+been+afraid.
“Oh+honey,”+I+said.+“I+don’t+think+you’ll+break+another+arm.”
“But+I+could,+couldn’t+I?”
“Yes,”+I+admitted,+and+found+myself+struggling+for+the+right+thing+to+say.+At+times+like+this,+I+wished+I+had+a+partner+to+turn+to+someone+who+might+help+find+the+right+words+to+make+my+little+girl’s+problems+disappear.+But+after+a+disastrous+marriage+and+a+painful+divorce,+I’d+welcomed+the+hardships+of+being+a+single+parent+and+had+been+adamant+in+telling+anyone+who+tried+to+fix+me+up+that+I+was+terminally+single.
“I+don’t+think+I+want+to+ride,”+she+said+and+got+off+her+bike.
We+walked+away+and+sat+down+beside+a+tree.
“Don’t+you+want+to+ride+with+your+friends?”+I+asked.
“Yes,”+she+admitted.
“And+I+thought+you+were+hoping+to+start+riding+your+bike+to+school+next+year,”+I+added.
“I+was,”+she+said,+her+voice+almost+a+quiver.
“You+know,+honey,”+I+said.+“Most+everything+you+do+come+with+risks.+You+could+get+a+broken+arm+in+a+car+wreck+and+then+be+afraid+to+ever+ride+in+a+car+again.+You+could+break+your+arm+jumping+rope.+You+could+break+your+arm+at+gymnastics.+Do+you+want+to+stop+going+to+gymnastics?”
“No,”+she+said.+And+with+a+determined+spirit,+she+stood+up+and+agreed+to+try+again.+I+held+on+to+the+back+of+her+bike+until+she+found+the+courage+to+say,+“Let+go!”
I+spent+the+rest+of+the+afternoon+at+the+park+watching+a+very+brave+little+girl+overcome+a+fear,+and+congratulating+myself+for+being+a+selfsufficient+single+parent.
As+we+walked+home,+pushing+the+bike+as+we+made+our+way+along+the+sidewalk,+she+asked+me+about+a+conversation+she’d+overheard+me+having+with+my+mother+the+night+before.
“Why+were+you+and+grandma+arguing+last+night?”
My+mother+was+one+of+the+many+people+who+constantly+tried+to+fix+me+up.+How+many+times+had+I+told+her+“no”+to+meeting+the+Mr.+Perfect+she+picked+out+for+me.+She+just+knew+Steve+was+the+man+for+me.
“It’s+nothing,”+I+told+her.
She+shrugged.+“Grandma+said+she+just+wanted+you+to+find+someone+to+love.”
“What+grandma+wants+is+for+some+guy+to+break+my+heart+again,”+I+snapped,+angry+that+my+mother+had+said+anything+about+this+to+my+daughter.
“But+Mom...”
“You’re+too+young+to+understand,”+I+told+her.
She+was+quiet+for+the+next+few+minutes.+Then+she+looked+up+and+in+a+small+voice+gave+me+something+to+think+about.
“So+I+guess+love+isn’t+like+a+broken+arm.”
Unable+to+answer,+we+walked+the+rest+of+the+way+in+silence.+When+I+got+home,+I+called+my+mother+and+scolded+her+for+talking+about+this+to+my+daughter.+Then+I+did+what+I’d+seen+my+brave+little+gift+do+that+very+afternoon.+I+let+go+and+agreed+to+meet+Steve.
Steve+was+the+man+for+me.+We+married+less+than+a+year+later.+It+turned+out+mother+and+my+daughter+were+right.
断翅
吉姆&#8226胡里汉
有些人注定就是要失败的。这是一些成人看待问题少年的观点。也许你曾听说过这句谚语:“断翅的鸟儿永远飞不高。”我相信,蒂杰每天在学校里也都是这样定义自己的。
直到上高中,蒂杰都是镇上远近闻名的捣蛋鬼。只要看到蒂杰的名字出现在留级学生名册上,老师们个个都是毛骨悚然。蒂杰不爱说话,而且不回答老师的问题,打架是家常便饭。进入高中后,他差不多门门功课都不及格,却每年都能跟班升级,其原因就是老师们不想来年再教他。蒂杰的确天天都去上学,可显然丝毫没有长进。
在一次周末学生领导会议上,我第一次遇见蒂杰。学校邀请所有学生签名参加一项旨在鼓励他们积极参与社团活动的ACE培训课程。405名学生都签了名,蒂杰也是其中一位。在我第一次主持他们的会议前,社团主席向我大体介绍了学生们的情况:“今天我们这里的学生可谓良莠不齐,从学生会主席到拥有小镇历史上最长时间被捕记录的男生——蒂杰。”我知道,这不是我第一次听别人这样介绍蒂杰——先从他的缺点开始介绍。
大会开始后,蒂杰又是站在学生圈外,背靠着墙,脸上一副“来啊,来打动我”的表情。他没有打算参与小组讨论,似乎也没什么要说的。但互动的游戏渐渐引起了他的兴趣。当各个小组开始讨论本年度校园里发生的好事和坏事时,他心中的冰雪才开始融化。在这些问题上,蒂杰有着自己明确的观点。和他一组的学生们都十分赞赏他。刹那间,蒂杰感觉自己成了小组的一分子,而且不久之后便成为了小组的领导。他的观点意义深刻,每个人都在仔细聆听。蒂杰是个聪明的孩子,他有许多伟大的思想。
第二天,蒂杰成为所有研讨班上最活跃的人。会议临近结束时,他参加了“无家工程”队。他理解贫穷、饥饿和绝望,他的思想和高昂的热情感染了队里的同学。队员们推选他为联合主席。学生会主席将采纳蒂杰的执行计划。
周一上午刚到学校,蒂杰却面临着一个困难。一群老师向校长反映反对蒂杰当联合主席。原来社区服务工程的第一个任务就是由“无家工程”队组织的大型食物募捐活动。对于这个久负盛名的3年行动计划,这些老师不相信校长居然会把这项活动的重要开端交到一无是处的蒂杰手上。他们提醒校长:“蒂杰的犯罪记录和你的手臂一样长,他可能会偷走一半募捐到的食物。”考格劭先生提醒老师们,ACE课程的宗旨就是要培养学生们积极向上的热情,并使他们更多地将这种热情投入到实践活动中去,直到有了真正的改变为止。老师们失望地摇着头离开了,他们坚持认为失败近在眼前。
两个星期后,蒂杰和他的朋友们率领一支由70名学生组成的队伍募捐食物。仅仅在两个小时之内,他们就创下了学校募捐纪录——2854罐食物。附近两条街区中心的空货架被装得满满的,这些食物解决了这一地区贫困家庭75天的温饱问题。第二天,当地报纸用了整整一个版面对这一事件进行了报道。报纸被张贴在学校的公告栏上——每个人都可以看到的地方。当然少不了蒂杰的照片,因为他做了件大事,他创造了学校募捐食物的纪录。这张报纸在每一天都提醒他曾做过的事情。大家公认蒂杰具有领导天赋。
蒂杰开始每天出现在校园里,并第一次回答老师们提出的问题。他还组织领导了第二项工程,收集了300条毯子和1000双鞋捐给那些无家可归的贫民。他的业绩达到一天内募捐到9000罐食物,解决了贫困家庭一年内70%的食物需求。
蒂杰的事迹提醒我们:断翅的鸟儿需要的只是疗伤。只要伤口愈合,它就可以飞得更高。蒂杰找到了一份工作,他很能干。现在他飞得相当精彩。
■心灵小语
不同的人,总有着不同的成长历程,每个人脚下的路都曲曲折折,不尽相同。在定义一个人时,我们更应该认识到他的优点。沉沦中的人更需要他人的支持、帮助和关爱。暂时身处顺境中的人们,伸出援助之手,就极有可能成就一个天才!
Broken+Wing
Jim+Hullihan
Some+people+are+just+doomed+to+be+failures.+That’s+the+way+some+adults+look+at+troubled+kids.+Maybe+you’ve+heard+the+saying,++“A+bird+with+a+broken+wing+will+never+fly+as+high.”+I’m+sure+that+T.+J.+Ware+was+made+to+feel+this+way+almost+every+day+in+school.+
By+high+school,+T.+J.+was+the+most+celebrated+troublemaker+in+his+town.+Teachers+literally+cringed+when+they+saw+his+name+posted+on+their+classroom+lists+for+the+next+semester.+He+wasn’t+very+talkative,+didn’t+answer+questions+and+got+into+lots+of+fights.+He+had+flunked+almost+every+class+by+the+time+he+entered+his+senior+year,+yet+was+being+passed+on+each+year+to+a+higher+grade+level.+Teachers+didn’t+want+to+have+him+again+the+following+year.+T.+J.+was+moving+on,+but+definitely+not+moving+up.+
I+met+T.+J.+for+the+first+time+at+a+weekend+leadership+retreat.+All+the+students+at+school+had+been+invited+to+sign+up+for+ACE+training,+a+program+designed+to+have+students+become+more+involved+in+their+communities.+T.+J.+was+one+of++405++students+who+signed+up.+When+I+showed+up+to+lead+their+first+retreat,+the+community+leaders+gave+me+this+overview+of+the+attending+students,+“We+have+a+total+spectrum+represented+today,+from+the+student+body+president+to+T.+J.+Ware,+the+boy+with+the+longest+arrest+record+in+the+history+of+town.”+Somehow,+I+knew+that+I+wasn’t+the+first+to+hear+about+T.+J.’s+darker+side+as+the+first+words+of+introduction.+
At+the+start+of+the+retreat,+T.+J.+was+literally+standing+outside+the+circle+of+students,+against+the+back+wall,+with+that“go+ahead,+impress+me”+look+on+his+face.+He+didn’t+readily+join+the+discussion+groups,+didn’t+seem+to+have+much+to+say.+But+slowly,+the+interactive+games++drew+him+in.+The+ice+really+melted+when+the+groups+started+building+a+list+of+positive+and+negative+things+that+had+occurred+at+school+that+year.+T.+J.+had+some+definite+thoughts+on+those+situations.+The+other+students+in+T.+J.+’s+group+welcomed+his+comments.+All+of+a+sudden+T.+J.+felt+like+a+part+of+the+group,+and+before+long+he+was+being+treated+like+a+leader.+He+was+saying+things+that+made+a+lot+of+sense,+and+everyone+was+listening.+T.+J.+was+a+smart+guy+and+he+had+some+great+ideas.+
The+next+day,+T.+J.+was+very+active+in+all+the+sessions.+By+the+end+of+the+retreat,+he+had+joined+the+Homeless+Project+team.+He+knew+something+about+poverty,+hunger+and+hopelessness.+The+other+students+on+the+team+were+impressed+with+his+passionate+concern+and+ideas.+They+elected+T.+J.+cochairman+of+the+team.+The+student+council+president+would+be+taking+his+instruction+from+T.+J.+Ware.+
When+T.+J.+showed+up+at+school+on+Monday+morning,+he+arrived+to+a+firestorm.+A+group+of+teachers+were+protesting+to+the+school+principal+about+his+being+elected+cochairman.+The+very+first+communitywide+service+project+was+to+be+a+giant+food+drive,+organized+by+the+Homeless+Project+team.+These+teachers+couldn’t+believe+that+the+principal+would+allow+this+crucial+beginning+to+a+prestigious,+threeyear+action+plan+to+stay+in+the+incapable+hands+of+T.+J.+Ware.+They+reminded+the+principal,+“He+has+an+arrest+record+as+long+as+your+arm.+He’ll++probably+steal+half+the+food.”+Mr.+Coggshall+reminded+them+that+the+purpose+of+the+ACE+program+was+to+uncover+any+positive+passion+that+a+student+had+and+reinforce+its+practice+until+true+change+can+take+place.+The+teachers+left+the+meeting+shaking+their+heads+in+disgust,+firmly+convinced+that+failure+was+imminent.+
Two+weeks+later,+T.+J.+and+his+friends+led+a+group+of+70+students+in+a+drive+to+collect+food.+They+collected+a+school+record:2,854+cans+of+food+in+just+two+hours.+It+was+enough+to+fill+the+empty+shelves+in+two+neighborhood+centers,+and+the+food+took+care+of+needy+families+in+the+area+for+75+days.+The+local+newspaper+covered+the+event+with+a+fullpage+article+the+next+day.+That+newspaper+story+was+posted+on+the+main+bulletin+board+at+school,+where+everyone+could+see+it.+T.J.’s+picture+was+up+there+for+doing+something+great,+for+leading+a+recordsetting+food+drive.+Every+day+he+was+reminded+about+what+he+did.+He+was+being+acknowledged+as+leadership+material.+
T.+J.+started+showing+up+at+school+every+day+and+answered+questions+from+teachers+for+the+first+time.+He+led+a+second+project,+collecting+300+blankets+and+1,000+pairs+of+shoes+for+the+homeless+shelter.+The+event+he+started+now+yields+9,000+cans+of+food+in+one+day,+taking+care+of+70+percent+of+the+need+for+food+for+one+year.+
T.+J.+reminds+us+that+a+bird+with+a+broken+wing+only+needs+mending.+But+once+it+has+healed,+it+can+fly+higher+than+the+rest.+T.+J.+got+a+job.++He+became+productive.+He+is+flying+quite+nicely+these+days.
真正的勇气
佚名
我知道勇气是什么样子的,6年前我在飞机上看到了。直到现在,我才可以不落泪地凭着记忆把这个故事讲出来。
那个周五的早上,当我们乘坐的L1011航班飞离奥兰多机场时,飞机上的人们个个精神饱满。搭载早班飞机的人主要是前往亚特兰大出差一两天的职业人士。我环顾四周,看到很多的品牌西装、准经理人式发型、皮质公文包以及各种老练的商务旅行者所用的东西。我向后靠靠身子,准备用读书的方式度过剩下的那段旅程。
起飞不久,飞机很显然发生了一些故障。机身剧烈地上下颠簸、左右晃动。所有有经验的旅行者,包括我在内,都会心地微笑着四下看看。大家同样的表情是在彼此相告:我们经历过这样的小麻烦和混乱情况。如果飞机乘坐多了,你就会遇见这样的事情,就知道该如何应对了。
可是,我们的心没能平静多久。飞机升入空中几分钟后,机身就开始大幅度倾斜,一只机翼朝下。飞机想要飞得更高些,可是无济于事,根本飞不起来。没过多久,飞行员就沮丧地向乘客们作了通报。
他说:“我们现在遇到了一些麻烦。目前看来,似乎是前轮转向引擎坏了。指示器显示,飞机的水压系统失灵。我们现在要返回奥兰多机场。由于缺少液压装置,我们不能确定着陆传动装置能否固定得住,因此飞机上的乘务人员会帮助你们做好防着陆冲击准备。另外,如果你向窗外看一下的话,就会看到我们正在倾倒飞机燃料。我们希望尽可能地减缓因机身的重量造成的颠簸。”
换句话说,我们要坠机了。数百加仑的燃料倾倒出来,从我眼前的舷窗外流下,再没有哪种景象比这更令人清醒的了。乘务人员帮助乘容做好防冲姿势,并安慰着那些已经歇斯底里的人。
当我再看那些商务出差的旅伴们时,我对他们脸上表情的突变感到惊讶。现在,显然很多人都受到了惊吓,就连那些最有自制力的人,表情也变得严峻起来,面色如灰。是的,他们的脸色看上去成了真正的灰色,这是我从来都没有看到过的。我想在场的人都是害怕的,无一例外。每个人都在这样或那样的举动中失去了镇静。
我开始在人群中寻找这样一个人:他能在这样的境况中,保持安宁和镇定,能给予人们真正的勇气和伟大的信仰。我没能找到这样的人。接着,我听到我左侧几排椅子处传来一个女人的声音,她的声音依然是镇定的。她正在以一种绝对正常的、聊天式的声调说着话。她的声音中没有恐惧的颤抖,也没有紧张,就连声调也是那样的悦耳。我得去弄明白这声音是谁发出来的。
四周的人们都在哭泣。很多人都在哀号和尖叫,很少一部分人死死地抓着椅子把手,紧咬着牙来保持镇定,然而,恐惧早已写在他们身上。尽管我的信仰使我没有变得歇斯底里,但是此刻,我已经不能沉着地、像我听到的那个声音那样悦耳,充满信心地讲话了。最后,我看到了她。
混乱中,一位母亲正在与她的孩子交谈着。她三十多岁,相貌平平,正全神贯注地看着自己大约四岁女儿的脸。孩子倾听着,察觉到了母亲所说的话的分量。母亲如此专注的目光,似乎使她不会受到周围哀伤和恐惧的声音的影响。
另一个小女孩的形象在我的脑子里闪现,她是最近一场空难的幸存者。据推测,她能幸免于难,是因为她的母亲为了保护她,用安全带将她和自己捆在一起,用自己的身体把她压在了身下。母亲没能活下来。对于这个小女孩在事后接受的心理治疗,报纸在几个星期内作了追踪报道。心理治疗的目的是为了消除这个幸存者的负罪感。医生一遍又一遍地告诉小女孩,母亲的离去并不是她的过错。但愿今天的故事不会这样结束。
我努力去听清楚母亲对孩子所说的话。我必须听到,需要听到。我弯下身子,终于奇迹般地听到了那温柔的、自信的、令人放心的声音。一遍又一遍,母亲告诉女儿:“我很爱你。你相信妈妈爱你胜过一切吗?”
“相信,妈妈。”小姑娘回答说。
“不管发生什么事,你都要记住,妈妈会一直爱你。你是个好孩子。有些事情的发生并不是你的错,你还是个好孩子,我的爱将会永远与你同在。”
说完,母亲伏身遮住女儿的身体,用座位上的安全带将两个人系在一起,做好了防冲准备。然而,飞机着陆传动装置竟然奇迹般地挺住了,看似注定的着陆惨案没有发生。潜在的危险在数秒之内结束。
我在那天听到的那个声音,从始至终都从没有颤抖过,没有半点犹豫,一直保持着情绪上和身体上令人难以置信的平和。我们这些坚毅的商人,没有一个可以保持自己的讲话声音不颤抖。只有最伟大的勇气,在更伟大的爱的鼓舞下,才能支持住母亲,使她超然于周围的混乱。那位母亲向我展示出了真正的英雄形象。就在那短短的几分钟内,我听到了勇气的声音。
What+Courage+Looks+Like?
Anonymous
I+know+what+courage+looks+like.+I+saw+it+on+a+flight+I+took+six+years+ago,+and+only+now+can+I+speak+of+it+without+tears+filling+eyes+at+the+memory.+
When+our+L1011+left+the+Orlando+airport+that+Friday+morning,+we+were+a+chipper1,+highenergy+group.+The+earlymorning+flights+hosted+mainly+professional+people+going+to+Atlanta+for+a+day+or+two+of+business.+As+I+looked+around,+I+saw+lots+of+designer+suits,+CEOcaliber+haircuts,+leather+briefcases+and+all+the+trimmings+of+seasoned+business+travelers.+I+settled+back+for+some+light+reading+and+the+brief+flight+ahead.+
Immediately+upon+take+off,+it+was+clear+that+something+was+amiss.+The+aircraft+was+bumping+up+and+down+and+jerking+left+to+right.+All+the+experienced+travelers,+including+me,+looked+around+with+knowing+grins.+Our+communal+looks+acknowledged+to+one+another+that+we+had+experienced+minor+problems+and+disturbances+before.+If+you+fly+much,+you+see+these+things+and+learn+to+act+blase+about+them.+
We+did+not+remain+blase+for+long.+Minutes+after+we+were+airborne2,+our+plane+began+dipping+wildly+and+one+wing+lunged+downward.+The+plane+climbed+higher+but+that+didn’t+help.+It+didn’t.+The+pilot+soon+made+a+grave+announcement.+
“We+are+having+some+difficulties,”+he+said.+“At+this+time,+it+appears+we+have+no+nosewheel+steering.+Our+indicators+show+that+our+hydraulic+system+has+failed.+We+will+be+returning+to+the+Orlando+airport+at+this+time.+Because+of+the+lack+of+hydraulics,+we+are+not+sure+our+landing+gear+will+lock,+so+the+flight+attendants+will+prepare+you+for+a+bumpy+landing.+Also,+if+you+look+out+the+windows,+you+will+see+that+we+are+dumping+fuel+from+the+airplane.+We+want+to+have+as+little+on+board+as+possible+in+the+event+of+a+tough+touchdown.”
In+other+words,+we+were+about+to+crash.+No+sight+has+ever+been+so+sobering+as+that+fuel,+hundreds+of+gallons+of+it,+streaming+past+my+window+out+of+the+plane’s+tanks.+The+flight+attendants+helped+people+get+into+position+and+comforted+those+who+were+already+hysterical3.
As+I+looked+at+the+faces+of+my+fellow+business+travelers,+I+was+stunned+by+the+changes+I+saw+in+their+faces.+Many+looked+visibly+frightened+now.+Even+the+most+stoic+looked+grim+and+ashen.+Yes,+their+faces+actually+looked+gray+in+color,+something+I’d+never+seen+before.+There+was+not+one+exception.+No+one+faces+death+without+fear,+I+thought.+Everyone+lost+composure+in+one+way+or+another.
I+began+searching+the+crowd+for+one+person+who+felt+peace+and+calm+that+true+courage+or+great+faith+gives+people+in+these+events.+I+saw+no+one.+Then+a+couple+of+rows+to+my+left,+I+heard+a+still+calm+voice,+a+woman’s+voice,+speaking+in+an+absolutely+normal+conversational+tone.+There+was+no+tremor+or+tension.+It+was+a+lovely,+even+tone.+I+had+to+find+the+source+of+this+voice.
All+around,+people+cried.+Many+wailed+and+screamed.+A+few+of+the+men+hold+onto+their+composure+by+gripping+armrests+and+clenching+teeth,+but+their+fear+was+written+all+over+them.+Although+my+faith+kept+me+from+hysteria,+I+could+not+have+spoken+so+calmly,+so+sweetly+at+this+moment+as+the+assuring+voice+I+heard.+Finally+I+saw+her.
In+the+midst+of+all+the+chaos,+a+mother+was+talking,+just+talking,+to+her+child.+The+woman,+in+her+mid30’s+and+unremarkable+looking+in+any+other+way,+was+staring+full+into+the+face+of+her+daughter,+who+looked+to+be+four+years+old.+The+child+listened+closely,+sensing+the+importance+of+her+mother’s+words.+The+mother’s+gaze+held+the+child+so+fixed+and+intent+that+she+seemed+untouched+by+the+sounds+of+grief+and+fear+around+her.
A+picture+flashed+into+my+mind+of+another+little+girl+who+had+recently+survived+a+terrible+plane+crash.+Speculation4+had+it+that+she+had+lived+because+her+mother+had+strapped+her+own+body+over+the+little+girl’s+in+order+to+protect+her.+The+mother+did+not+survive.+The+newspapers+had+been+tracking+how+the+little+girl+had+been+treated+by+psychologists+for+weeks+afterward+to+ward+off+feelings+of+guilt+and+unworthiness+that+often+haunt+survivors.+The+child+was+told+over+and+over+again+that+it+had+not+been+her+fault+that+her+mommy+had+gone+away.+I+hoped+this+situation+would+not+end+the+same+way.
I+strained5+to+hear+what+this+mother+was+telling+her+child.+I+was+compelled+to+hear.+I+need+to+hear.+Finally,+I+leaned+over+and+by+some+miracle+could+hear+this+soft,+sure+voice+with+the+tone+of+reassurance.+Over+and+over+again,+the+mother+said,+“I+love+you+so+much.+Do+you+know+for+sure+that+I+love+you+more+than+anything?”
“Yes,+Mommy,”+the+little+girl+said.
“And+remember,+no+matter+what+happens,+that+I+love+you+always.+And+that+you+are+a+good+girl.+Sometimes+things+happen+that+are+not+your+fault.+You+are+still+a+good+girl+and+my+love+will+always+be+with+you.”
Then+the+mother+put+her+body+over+her+daughter’s,+strapped+the+seat+belt+over+both+of+them+and+prepared+to+crash.+For+no+earthly+reason,+our+landing+gear+held+and+our+touchdown+was+not+the+tragedy+it+seemed+destined+to+be.+It+was+over+in+seconds.
The+voice+I+heard+that+day+never+wavered,+never+acknowledged+doubt,+and+maintained+an+evenness+that+seemed+emotionally+and+physically+impossible.+Not+one+of+us+hardened+business+people+could+have+spoken+without+a+tremoring6+voice.+Only+the+greatest+courage,+undergirded+by+even+greater+love,+could+have+borne+that+mother+up+and+lifted+her+above+the+chaos+around+her.+That+mom+showed+me+what+a+real+hero+looks+like.+And+for+those+few+minutes,+I+heard+the+voice+of+courage.
看得见风景的房间
佚名
两位身患重病的人住在同一间病房里,遵照医嘱,其中一个每天下午要在床上坐一个小时,以便能将肺内的积液排出体外,他的床紧临病房里唯一的一扇窗户。另一个必须终日平躺在床上。他们总是连续几个小时地谈话,谈起各自的家庭和妻子,以及他们的工作和服兵役时在部队里发生的一些事,还有他们都曾度过假的地方。每天下午,靠窗子的病人坐起来,都要向他的病友描述发生在窗外的事,以此来打发时光。这一个多小时,让另一个病人有了更多的生存渴望,他向往窗外那丰富多彩的生活,那会使他视野开阔,心情畅快。
窗外有一个公园,公园里有一个可爱的湖泊。鸭子和天鹅在水中自由自在地游着,孩子们在水面玩着模型船。青年情侣手挽着手漫步于五彩缤纷的花丛中。擎天大树使风景更加幽雅迷人,极目远眺,整个城市尽收眼底。窗边的男人栩栩如生地描述着窗外的美景,此时,另一个男人总是闭上眼睛,幻想着这些如诗如画的美景。
一个阳光和煦的午后,窗边男人又向病友描述着路经的游行队伍,尽管病友听不见鼓乐声,但他可以通过窗边男人的描述,凭借自己的想象在脑海中勾画窗外的繁荣。时间就这样一天天,一周周过去了。一天早上,值班护士给他们送洗澡水时,发现窗边的男人已经死了,他是在睡梦中安静地死去的。她伤心极了,让医院的护理员抬走了尸体。
选择了一个恰当的时机,另一个男人便问护士他是否可以搬到靠窗的床上去,护士很高兴地答应了,打理好一切后,便离开了病房。他努力地用一只胳膊慢慢地支撑着使自己坐起来,他要亲眼看一下外面的世界。他很高兴,终于有机会能亲眼看风景了。他紧张地慢慢扭头望向窗外,看到的是一堵光秃秃的墙。
男人不解地问护士,是什么力量促使已故的病友把窗外的东西描述得那么美好呢?护士回答说那个男人是个盲人,根本连那堵墙都看不到。她说:“他或许只是想给你些鼓励。”
A+Room+with++a+View
Anonymous
Two+men,+both+seriously+ill,+occupied+the+same+hospital+room.+One+man+was+allowed+to+sit+up+in+his+bed+for+an+hour+each+afternoon+to+help+drain1+the+fluid+from+his+lungs.+His+bed+was+next+to+the+room’s+only+window.+The+other+man+had+to+spend+all+his+time+flat+on+his+back.+The+men+talked+for+hours+on+end.+They+spoke+of+their+wives+and+families,+their+homes,+their+jobs,+their+involvement2+in+the+military+service,+where+they+had+been+on+vacation.+And+every+afternoon+when+the+man+in+the+bed+by+the+window+could+sit+up,+he+would+pass+the+time+by+describing+to+his+roommate+all+the+things+he+could+see+outside+the+window.+The+man+in+the+other+bed+began+to+live+for+those+onehour+periods+where+his+world+would+be+broadened+and+enlivened+by+all+the+activity+and+color+of+the+world+outside.
The+window+overlooked+a+park+with+a+lovely+lake.+Ducks+and+swans+played+on+the+water+while+children+sailed+their+model+boats.+Young+lovers+walked+arm+in+arm+amidst+flowers+of+every+color+of+the+rainbow.+Grand+old+trees+graced+the+landscape,+and+a+fine+view+of+the+city+skyline+could+be+seen+in+the+distance.+As+the+man+by+the+window+described+all+this+in+exquisite3+detail,+the+man+on+the+other+side+of+the+room+would+close+his+eyes+and+imagine+the+picturesque+scene.
One+warm+afternoon+the+man+by+the+window+described+a+parade4+passing+by.+Although+the+other+man+couldn’t+hear+the+band,+he+could+see+it+in+his+mind’s+eye+as+the+gentleman+by+the+window+portrayed+it+with+descriptive5+words.+Days+and+weeks+passed.+One+morning,+the+day+nurse+arrived+to+bring+water+for+their+baths+only+to+find+the+lifeless+body+of+the+man+by+the+window,+who+had+died+peacefully+in+his+sleep.+She+was+saddened+and+called+the+hospital+attendants+to+take+the+body+away.
As+soon+as+it+seemed+appropriate,+the+other+man+asked+if+he+could+be+moved+next+to+the+window.+The+nurse+was+happy+to+make+the+switch,+and+after+making+sure+he+was+comfortable,+she+left+him+alone.+Slowly,+painfully,+he+propped6+himself+up+on+one+elbow+to+take+his+first+look+at+the+world+outside.+Finally,+he+would+have+the+joy+of+seeing+it+for+himself.+He+strained+to+slowly+turn+to+look+out+the+window+beside+the+bed.+It+faced+a+blank+wall.htTΡδ://WwW.ЪǐQiKǔ.йēT
The+man+asked+the+nurse+what+could+have+compelled7+his+deceased+roommate+who+had+described+such+wonderful+things+outside+this+window.+The+nurse+responded+that+the+man+was+blind+and+could+not+even+see+the+wall.++She+said,+“Perhaps+he+just+wanted+to+encourage+you.”
77美分
佚名
我在新墨西哥州的爱伯克奇城居住,许多无家可归的人都聚集在市区,特别是在高校区。出于对他们不幸的同情,我过去常会给他们很多钱。然而,随着时间的流逝,我也沦为他们中的一员。离婚后,身为单身母亲的我无家可归,没有收入,还要还一大笔债。我变得很吝啬,不再给街头的流浪者们一分钱。
在我的努力下,生活有所好转。我已经能为女儿买带后院的房子,为她提供丰盛的饭菜,而且债务也渐渐还清。一天,我们看到一个流浪汉,胸前挂着这样的牌子:“请给我点吃的吧。”我漠然地走过。女儿感叹道:“妈妈,您以前总会帮助他们,可是现在怎么……”我回答说:“亲爱的,他们只会用那些钱去喝酒或干坏事。”女儿默不作声。但我觉得自己不应该那么说。
三天后,我开车去学校接女儿。看到一个男子满脸焦虑地站在角落,顿时我心中有个声音说:“去帮助他吧。”于是我摇下车窗,只见他喜出望外地跑了过来,说:“好心的女士,我只需要77美分。”我去摸钱包,却发现没有带。我只好尴尬地摊开手,以示我无能为力。但当他转身要离开时,我叫住了他:“稍等一下!”我在烟灰缸里找到了三张25美分和2个便士。实在太巧了,刚好77美分。
看到这些,我感到皮肤一阵刺痛。我将零钱拿出来,给了他。他顿时开心得热泪盈眶,说:“噢,您让我能够在圣诞节回家看望母亲了!太感谢您了!我已经三年没看过母亲了。汽车还有20分钟就开了!我得走了。”
我永远忘不了那一刻。我想他也不会忘记,但生活却带给了我最珍贵的礼物——给予。它也让我在瞬间明白:一切并非偶然,任何给予都意义非凡,就算只有这极少的77美分。
77Cents
Anonymous
I+live+in+Albuquerque,+New+Meo,+and+there+are+some+homeless+people+in+the+downtown,+especially+the+University+area.+I+used+to1+give+a+lot+of+money+to+the+homeless,+feeling+sorry+for+their+misfortune2.+But+as+time+passed,+I+fell+into+a+victim+to+many+of+the+circumstances3+of+a+homeless+person.+After+I+was+divorced+from+my+husband,+I+became+a+single+mom+with+no+home,+a+huge+debt,+and+hardly+any+income.+As+a+result,+I+became+very+mean+and+stopped+giving+to+the+people+on+the+side+of+the+road.
Through+my+working+hard,+things+started+to+change+for+me.+I+became+responsible+enough+to+have+a+home+with+a+backyard+for+my+daughter,+and+plenty+of+food,+and+I+started+to+pull+myself+out+of+debt.+One+day+we+saw+a+homeless+person+with+the+sign“Will+work+for+food”.+I+passed+by.+My+daughter+commented,+“Mommy,+you+used+to+always+give+to+those+people+in+need.+But+now+...”+I+replied,+“Honey,+they+just+use+that+money+for+alcohol4+or+other+bad+things.”+She+didn’t+respond.+But+when+I+said+that,+I+didn’t+feel+right.
Three+days+later,+I+was+driving+to+pick+up+my+daughter+from+school.+A+man+was+standing+on+the+corner+with+the+appearance+of+worries,+and+suddenly+something+deep+inside+me+said,+“Just+help+the+guy.”+So+I+rolled+down+my+window,+and+he+ran+over+with+enthusiasm5.+He+said,+“Kind+lady,+I+only+need+77+cents.”+I+reached+into+my+pocket+and+found+that+I+didn’t+take+my+purse.+And+then+embarrassedly6+spread+out+my+hands+to+show+that+I+was+in+no+position+to+help+him.+But+when+he+turned+away,+I+called+to+him,+“Wait+a+moment!”+I+found+in+my+ashtray+there+sat+three+quarters+and+two+pennies.+Oddly+enough,+it+was+the+very+77+cents.
My+skin+was+prickling+as+I+saw+this.+I+scooped7+it+up+and+gave+it+to+him.+He+burst+out+with+joy+and+tears+in+his+eyes,+“Wow,+you+just+made+it+possible+for+me+to+see+my+mom+for+Christmas!Thank+you+so+much!I+haven’t+visited+my+mother+for+three+years.+The+bus+is+leaving+in+20+minutes!I+have+to+go+now.”
It+was+the+moment+that+I’ll+never+forget.+I+think+that+man+won’t+forget+it+either,+but+I+was+the+one+who+got+the+best+gift+in+life—GIVING.+It+also+strikes+me+that+nothing+is+a+coincidence8,+and+every+giving+has+meaning,+although+it+is+the+humble+77+cents.
美丽的失误
佚名
我的外公纳巴肯是一个热爱生活的人,尤其是跟别人开玩笑的时候。每每开某人的玩笑时,他那高大的挪威人的身躯就会随着朗朗的笑声颤抖,他还一面假装毫不知情地大叫:“噢,别再这样诬陷我!”但是在芝加哥的一个寒冷的周六,外公觉得上帝和他开了一个玩笑,而这一次他没有笑。
外公是一个木匠。在那特别的一天,外公为当地的教堂做一些箱子,用来将一些衣物运往国外的一个孤儿院。回家的路上,他伸手到衬衣的口袋里掏眼镜,却发现眼镜不见了。外公清楚地记得,早晨的时候把眼镜放在口袋里了,于是他返回教堂去找。结果一无所获。
他仔细地回忆着自己之前的每个举动,知道到底是怎么一回事了。原来,眼镜不小心从口袋里滑落,掉进了一个箱子里,但是那个箱子他已经钉上了。他那副新牌子的眼镜正被运往中国!
当时正值经济大萧条时期,外公还有六个孩子,那天早晨他刚花了20美元买了一副眼镜。
开车回家的路上,他沮丧地向上帝抱怨着:“这太不公平了。我已经很虔诚了,我花钱、花时间支持你的工作,可是现在却落得个这样的结果。”
数月后,那所孤儿院的院长来美国度假。他想参观一下所有援助过他的教堂,于是在一个星期天的夜晚,院长来到了芝加哥那所外公所在的教堂。稀稀疏疏的人群中,外公和他的家人们就坐在他们常坐的位子上。
院长说:“此次来访最重要的一个目的,就是要感谢去年给我们寄眼镜的那个人。”“即使我有钱,也不可能买到那样的眼镜。因为眼睛看不清楚,我每天都要忍受头痛的煎熬,因此我和我的同事热切地希望能有一副眼镜。后来你们的木箱运到了。我的工人们打开盖子后,发现有一副眼镜就放在衣服的最上面。”
院长停顿了好一会儿,来让人们充分理解他的意思。然后,他继续说下去,仍旧感触于这个不可思议的奇迹:“各位,当我戴上眼镜时,它简直就是为我量身定做的!我太感激你们能送我一副这样的眼镜了!”
人们都聆听着他的话,为这样一副不可思议的眼镜而感到高兴。但是他们认为,一定是这位院长把寄眼镜的那家教堂错当成他们这家教堂了。因为在他们运往海外的捐助物品清单上并没有眼镜。
然而,那位静静地坐在后面、泪流满面的平凡木匠懂得了,真主耶稣以一种特别的方式让他发挥了作用。(译者注:这里说到MasterCarpenter,因为耶稣曾是木匠)。
■心灵小语
每个人在生活中或许都会有一些大大小小的失误,然而,有时候失误也会成为人生道路上一道美丽的风景。文中的爷爷,因为不小心把眼镜掉进了运送募捐物品的箱子中,然而这副眼镜却给了受捐赠者极大的帮助,令他感激不已。
The+Perfect+Mistake
Anonymous
Grandpa+Nybakken+loved+life—especially+when+he+could+play+a+trick+on+somebody.+At+those+times,+his+large+Norwegian+frame+shook+with+laughter+while+he+feigned+innocent+surprise,+exclaiming,+“Oh,+forevermore!”+But+on+a+cold+Saturday+in+downtown+Chicago,+grandpa+felt+that+God+played+a+trick+on+him,+and+grandpa+wasn’t+laughing.
Mother’s+father+worked+as+a+carpenter.+On+this+particular+day,+he+was+building+some+crates+for+the+clothes+his+church+was+sending+to+an+orphanage1+abroad.+On+his+way+home,+he+reached+into+his+shirt+pocket+to+find+his+glasses,+but+they+were+gone.+He+remembered+putting+them+there+that+morning,+so+he+drove+back+to+the+church.+His+search+proved+fruitless.+
When+he+mentally+replayed+his+earlier+actions,+he+realized+what+happened.+The+glasses+had+slipped+out+of+his+pocket+unnoticed+and+fallen+into+one+of+the+crates,+which+he+had+nailed+shut.+His+brand+new+glasses+were+heading+for2+China!
The+Great+Depression+was+at+its+height,+and+grandpa+had+sihildren.+He+had+spent+twenty+dollars+for+those+glasses+that+very+morning.+
“It’s+not+fair,”+he+told+God+as+he+drove+home+in+frustration.“I’ve+been+very+faithful+in+giving+of+my+time+and+money+to+your+work,+and+now+this.”
Several+months+later,+the+director+of+the+orphanage+was+on+furlough3+in+the+United+States.+He+wanted+to+visit+all+the+churches+that+supported+him,+so+he+came+to+speak+on+Sunday+night+at+my+grandfather’s+small+church+in+Chicago.+Grandpa+and+his+family+sat+in+their+customary+seats+among+the+sparse4+congregation.+++++
“But+most+of+all,”+he+said,+“+I+must+thank+you+for+the+glasses+you+sent+last+year.”
“Even+if+I+had+the+money,+there+was+simply+no+way+of+replacing+those+glasses.+Along+with+not+being+able+to+see+well,+I+experienced+headaches+every+day,+so+my+coworkers+and+I+were+much+in+prayer+about+this.+Then+your+crates+arrived.+When+my+staffed+removed+the+covers,+they+found+a+pair+of+glasses+lying+on+top.”
The+missionary5+paused+long+enough+to+let+his+words+sink+in.+Then,+still+gripped+with+the+wonder+of+it+all,+he+continued,“Folks,+when+I+tried+on+the+glasses,+it+was+as+thought+they+had+been+custommade+just+for+me!I+want+to+thank+you+for+being+a+part+of+that!”
The+people+listened,+happy+for+the+miraculous6+glasses.+But+the+missionary+surely+must+have+confused+their+church+with+another,+they+thought,+there+were+no+glasses+on+their+list+of+items+to+be+sent+overseas.
But+sitting+quietly+in+the+back,+with+tears+streaming+down+his+face,+an+ordinary+carpenter+realized+the+Master+Carpenter+had+used+him+in+an+extraordinary+way. 无尽的昏迷过后,时宇猛地从床上起身。想要看最新章节内容,请下载星星阅读app,无广告免费阅读最新章节内容。网站已经不更新最新章节内容,已经星星阅读小说APP更新最新章节内容。
他大口的呼吸起新鲜的空气,胸口一颤一颤。
迷茫、不解,各种情绪涌上心头。
这是哪?
随后,时宇下意识观察四周,然后更茫然了。
一个单人宿舍?
就算他成功得到救援,现在也应该在病房才对。
还有自己的身体……怎么会一点伤也没有。
带着疑惑,时宇的视线快速从房间扫过,最终目光停留在了床头的一面镜子上。
镜子照出他现在的模样,大约十七八岁的年龄,外貌很帅。
可问题是,这不是他!下载星星阅读app,阅读最新章节内容无广告免费
之前的自己,是一位二十多岁气宇不凡的帅气青年,工作有段时间了。
而现在,这相貌怎么看都只是高中生的年纪……
这个变化,让时宇发愣很久。
千万别告诉他,手术很成功……
身体、面貌都变了,这根本不是手术不手术的问题了,而是仙术。
他竟完全变成了另外一个人!
难道……是自己穿越了?
除了床头那摆放位置明显风水不好的镜子,时宇还在旁边发现了三本书。
时宇拿起一看,书名瞬间让他沉默。
《新手饲养员必备育兽手册》
《宠兽产后的护理》
《异种族兽耳娘评鉴指南》
时宇:???
前两本书的名字还算正常,最后一本你是怎么回事?
“咳。”
时宇目光一肃,伸出手来,不过很快手臂一僵。
就在他想翻开第三本书,看看这究竟是个什么东西时,他的大脑猛地一阵刺痛,大量的记忆如潮水般涌现。
冰原市。
宠兽饲养基地。
实习宠兽饲养员。网站即将关闭,下载星星阅读app为您提供大神方雪梅的美丽英文
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