第4章 感动，那些改变一生的邂逅
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.
生命的美好没有界限。每一次相遇都会使这美好变得越发丰富。你经历得越多，越能欣赏生命的美好，生命中的美好也就会变得越多。
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.
美丽语录
I live not in myself,but I become portion of that aroud me.
我活着不只是为了自己，我已成了我周围的一部分。
假如人生不曾相遇，
你不会知道挂念的感觉，
不会知道世界上还有一种滋味叫作彼此关心。
行走在孤独而陌生的城市里，
不会知道在每一个日子里，
还会有一份来自远方的安静的牵挂。
假如人生不曾相遇，
你会发现世界很大，
大到还有许多我们不曾知晓的地方；
也会发现世界很小，
小到每一个经过的角落都刻下了熟悉的足迹，
熟悉如那段翻来覆去不断重播的秘密心事。
假如人生不曾相遇，
我不会知道该往何处凝视，
你也不会朝着我的方向凝眸。
每天只在风轻云淡里，
看日出日落，听虫鸣鸟叫，
冷暖自知，与自己的影子彼此安慰。
假如人生不曾相遇，
故事的旋律不会如此悠扬跌宕，
一些回眸始终游荡在脸庞之外，
一些欢颜也只绽放在陌生之中，
一些心意无法演绎成饱满篇章，
一些话语也将在冬季凝结成冰。
假如人生不曾相遇，
那些被人称为爱的感觉还在徘徊流浪，
那些轻声呼唤过的柔情也在四处漂泊，
那些梦里的眼神将被琐碎的日子裹藏，
那些点滴流过的相思也不会汇聚成海。
假如人生不曾相遇，
平凡的岁月不会被编织成斑斓的明亮色彩，
简单的生命会逐渐单调成乐章里的休止符。
渴望你的爱
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.”
美丽语录
If I know what love is,it is because of you.
因为你，我懂得了爱。
那是1942年冬季，一个寒冷阴暗的日子。但是在德国纳粹集中营内，这与其他的日子并没有什么不同。衣着单薄的我站在那里瑟瑟发抖，仍然不相信这场噩梦的发生。那时我只是个小男孩。我本应该同朋友们在一起玩乐，应该去上学，应该展望我的未来，憧憬着长大结婚，有一个自己的家庭。但这些梦想是属于那些活着的人的，而我已经不能算其中一个了。实际上，自从我从家里被人带走，与成千上万的犹太人一同被带到这里之后，我几乎就是个死人了，每一天每一小时都在拼命与死神抗争着。明天我还会活着吗？今晚我是不是就会被带进毒气室？
我沿着带刺的铁丝网来来回回地走着，试图让我单薄的身体暖和起来。我饿了，但我饿得太久了，我都不想去记有多长时间了。我总是特别饥饿。可以吃的食物就像个梦一样。每天随着我们当中更多人的突然消失，往日的快乐就像是一场梦境，而我也一天天地深陷绝望之中。突然，我发现一个小女孩从铁丝网那边走来。她停下脚步，用一种悲伤的眼神看着我，仿佛在告诉我说她能够理解我。不过，即便是她，也同样不明白我为什么会在这儿。我想移开我的视线，被一个陌生人这样盯着，我觉得特别害臊，但我的眼睛却无法从她身上挪开。
然后她把手伸进口袋，掏出一个红苹果。这个红苹果多么鲜艳、多么美丽！噢，我都不记得上次见到这种苹果是什么时候了！她小心翼翼地左右看了看，然后带着胜利的微笑，迅速将苹果抛过铁丝网来。我跑过去捡起了它，用我那颤抖的、冰冷的手指紧握着它。在这到处充斥着死亡的世界里，这个苹果就是生命和爱的象征。等我再次抬头时，瞥见那女孩已经消失在远处。
第二天，我情不自禁——我无法控制自己，又在同一时间来到铁丝网那里。她还会再出现吗，是我痴心妄想吗？当然。但是在这种地方，一丁点的希望我都要抓住。她给了我希望，我必须牢牢抓住。
她又来了。而且她又给我带来了一个苹果，并且带着同样甜蜜的微笑把它抛过了铁丝网栅栏。
这次我接住了它，并且举起来让她看。她的眼睛在闪烁。她是在可怜我吗？可能吧。我才不会在乎。能这样注视着她我就很开心了。这么久以来，我第一次感觉到，我的心中涌动着某种情感。
接下来的七个月里，我们就这样相会。有时我们会交谈几句。有时只是一个苹果。但是，她不只是安抚了我的胃，她就像天堂来的天使一样，安抚了我的灵魂。而且，我知道我也同样安抚了她。
一天，我听到一个可怕的消息：我们将被押往别的集中营。这对我来说就是末日来临，这就意味着我和她将要永别了。
第二天，当我跟她打招呼时，我的心都碎了，我勉强对她说了我必须要说的话。“明天不用再给我苹果了。”我告诉她说，“我将被转移到别的集中营。我们再也见不到对方了。”在我完全失控前，我转身从铁丝网旁边跑开了。我忍不住想回头看。但我不能回头，我不能让她看到我在这儿泪流满面的样子。
一晃又过了几个月，噩梦依然在继续。但对这个女孩的美好回忆支撑着我度过了那段恐怖、痛苦和绝望的日子。在我的脑海中，我一遍又一遍地看到她的脸庞，看到她那双善良的眼睛，听到她温柔的话语，品尝到那些苹果。
直到有一天，噩梦突然之间就结束了。战争结束了。我们这些幸存下来的人自由了。我已失去了所有珍贵的东西，包括我的家庭。但我仍然保留着对这个女孩的回忆，这记忆一直被放在心底里，它给了我继续走下去的意志，在我移居美国后，依然激励着我开始新的生活。
岁月流逝，转眼间就到了1957年。那时我住在纽约，一位朋友劝我和他的一位女性朋友约会，尽管不太情愿，我还是答应了。其实她还不错，叫罗玛。同我一样也是移民，因此至少我们之间还存在一个共同点。
“战争期间你在哪儿？”罗玛用移民们互相问及那段岁月所特有的微妙语调，小心翼翼地问我。
“我当时在德国的集中营里。”我回答。
罗玛的眼神陷入了一片遐想之中，仿佛回忆起了什么痛苦而又甜蜜的事情。
“怎么了？”我问她。
“我只是在想从前的一些事情，赫尔曼，”罗玛突然用一种轻柔的语气向我解释道。“你知道，那时我还是个小女孩，就住在一所集中营附近。那儿有一个男孩——一个小囚犯被关在营里，有很长一段时间我天天都去看他。我记得我给他带去苹果。我把苹果从铁丝网上扔过去，他就特别开心。”
罗玛重重地叹了一口气，接着说道：“很难描述出我们当时对彼此的感觉——毕竟，我们那时还很小，有机会时我们也只是谈过几句话——但我可以告诉你，我和他之间包含着很多爱。我猜他可能和其他人一样被杀了。但我无法去那样想，所以我总是记起我们在一起相处的时光，记起那几个月里他的样子。”
我的心猛地狂跳起来，我想它快爆炸了。我盯着她的眼睛问道，“是不是那男孩有一天对你说，‘明天不用再给我苹果了，我将被转移到别的集中营’？”
“哎？是啊，”罗玛颤抖着嗓音回答道。
“但是，赫尔曼，你怎么会知道这个？”
我握着她的手，答道：“因为我就是那个小男孩，罗玛。”
长久的静默。随着时间的面纱被揭开，我们再也无法将眼光从彼此身上移开，我们认出了隐藏在眼光后面的那颗心，我们曾深深爱恋着对方，我们从未停止过相爱，我们从未停止过那段思念。
最后，我说：“你看，罗玛，我与你分离过，但我再也不想与你分离了。现在，我自由了，我想和你永远在一起。亲爱的，你愿意嫁给我吗？”
在她的眼里，我又一次看到了过去的那种光芒。罗玛回答我说：“愿意，我愿意嫁给你。”我们拥抱在一起，这是多少年前我们曾渴望的拥抱，只是当时被铁丝网挡住了。现在，这种事情再也不会发生了。
我和罗玛的重逢差不多40年过去了。在战争年代，命运第一次让我们相聚，给了我希望的承诺，而如今它又和我们团聚来履行这一承诺。
1996年的情人节，我带着罗玛去参加奥普拉·温弗里脱口秀，在这个全国性电视节目中我向她表达了爱意。我想在亿万观众面前告诉她，每一天我心里一直想说的话：
“亲爱的，当我在集中营里非常饥饿时，是你给我送来了食物。但现在我仍然很饥饿，因为有些东西我永远也不会满足：我只渴望你的爱。”
注释
[1]nightmare['naitmɛə] n.噩梦，梦魇
[2]emaciated[i'meiʃieitid] a.瘦弱的，衰弱的
[3]edible[ˈɛdɪbəl] a.可食用的
[4]fathom['fæðəm] v.理解；推测；揣摩
乞丐的启示
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.
美丽语录
每个人心里都有一位国王。当你想和国王交谈时，他就会出现。
在越南胡志明市我们住的一家旅馆外，有一个看上去很老的女人拄着拐杖等在门外，双手向外伸着。每天，当我们眼神交汇时，我都会把手放在她的手中。她每次都会以同样的微笑、握手、问候来回报我的微笑、握手及问候。
在我们参观的最后一天，我自己一个人，在旅馆对面那条街的一个角落里。自行车和摩托车从我面前飞驰而过。有人建议我们直接穿过拥挤的车辆，不要再左右张望，避免他们撞到我们。
但今晚只有我自己，我感觉自己无力应对这急流般的车流。当我正在马路边犹豫的时候，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，她正笑眯眯地看着我。她朝街对面点点头，示意她可以带我过去。她温和地推着我向前走，我们便一起慢慢地走进嘈杂的车流当中。
当我们到达十字路口的中央时，我又一次低头看了看她，情不自禁地喊道：“你的微笑最美丽。”
显然她几乎不懂英语，但一定是听出了我的语调，于是她张开双臂，扔掉拐杖，给了我一个大大的拥抱，这个时候车辆都被我们涌到两旁了。
然后我俩蹒跚地向人行道走去，她把我的脸拉近她的脸，在我的两颊上亲了亲，然后一瘸一拐地走了，还不时地回头朝我微笑挥手。
我一分钱都没有给她。但我们分享了更有意义的东西——友情的温暖。
这次经历让我想起特蕾莎修女曾经说过的一句话：“如果你做不了伟大的事情，那就带着伟大的爱心去做一点小事。”
用眼睛和笑容看待乞丐，认同他们的存在，这都是小事情。将你的手放进他人伸出的手中，然后紧紧地握一会儿，这也是一件小事。学会用方言讲一句问候语并不困难。但是，这些都很有意义。
出于多种原因，向乞丐们伸出的手中放钱并不是最好的回应。许多环游世界的旅行者发现，他们能给予的最好的礼物是时间和友谊。每个人都需要被认可、被关注、被感激以及被爱。
在一些穷困的国家旅游时，我目睹了很多种与乞丐打交道的方式。游客们对贫穷最常见的回应就是忽视他们，把视线转移到其他地方。我曾见到有人恼怒地推开乞丐伸过来的手。还有一些人或许会匆匆地把一些硬币丢进哀求的手掌里，然后赶紧逃开，生怕会有其他20个乞丐突然出现在自己眼前。
但是，我觉得按照英国作家约翰·库伯·博伊斯所说的那样去生活是值得一试的，他说：“如果一个人不能毫无偏见地带着深厚、极大的兴趣看待每一个个体，那他就不能自认为是十足的文明人。”
我曾经在印度普虚卡骆驼节上看见一个没有腿的人坐在路边。当时我刚刚录完普虚卡舞者表演的异域音乐，正要返回帐篷，路上正用录音机重放着那些音乐。这个人的笑容深深吸引了我坐过去，我们开始用手语和笑声交谈起来。当你周游世界时，这些都是要学会的。
模仿过旋转的裙子和棒槌之后，我给他演示了一下我的录音机是如何工作的。他示意我把录音机给他看看。我犹豫了一下，但只是一下而已。仔细看过录音机之后，他开始唱歌，那首歌很动听，令人难以忘怀，他示意我把歌录下来，作为我们在一起的时光的记忆。
不久之前，我们是完全的陌生人。突然间，这个世界里共存的关系，让我们紧紧相连在一种瞬间的友谊当中。我们互相交换名字时，他的眼睛在发光。我和韦德在一起的经历验证了斯堪的纳维亚的一句格言：“每个人心里都有一位国王。当你想和国王交谈时，他就会出现。”
我明白了，那些被认为是世界上最无助的人却是如此的充满仁慈，他们怀着渴望被认同的心灵——并随时准备回应他人。
与平凡的人接触，我的生活一直被他们充实着。每次我这么做时，我都会发现我所收获的远远超过金钱的价值。我再一次坚信，每个人都是有价值的——并且值得你去了解。
注释
[1]inadequate[in'ædikwit] a.不充分的，不够格的
[2]precarious[pri'kɛəriəs] a.不稳的，危险的
[3]beseeching[bi'si:tʃiŋ] a.恳求似的
谁能拒绝十二次微笑
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?
美丽语录
Virtue is bold,and goodness never fearful.
美德是勇敢的，善良从来无所畏惧。
飞机刚刚起飞，一位乘客告诉空姐自己需要一杯水吃药。空姐答应10分钟后把水送来。
半小时之后，那位乘客要求服务的铃声响起，空姐慌了神。她太忙了，以至于忘记把水给乘客送去。结果就是乘客耽误了吃药。她急忙给他送去一杯水，但他拒绝了。
接下来的几个小时飞行中，空姐每次经过那位乘客都会面带微笑问他是否需要帮助。但那位乘客从不理睬她。
当乘客要下飞机时，他要求空姐把乘客意见簿拿过来。空姐很伤心。她认为他会写批评的话，但仍面带微笑把意见簿递给他。
下了飞机，她打开意见簿，脸上绽开了笑容，因为乘客是这样写的：“在飞机上，你一共问了我12次是否需要帮助。我怎么能够拒绝你12次真诚的微笑呢？”
是这样的！谁能够拒绝你12次真诚的微笑呢？
圣诞的早晨
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.
美丽语录
Personality is to man what perfume is to a flower.
品格之于人，犹如芳香之于花。
天空正下着细雨，我和姐姐吉尔从卫理公会教堂冲出来，一心只想快点回家，玩圣诞老人送给我们和小妹莎伦的玩具礼物。长途汽车会在教堂对面的泛美加油站停靠。因为那天是圣诞节，加油站关门了，但我却发现有一家人站在紧锁的加油站门外。他们蜷缩在狭窄的檐篷下，尽量避免被雨淋湿。我的脑海中忽然闪现出一个问题：他们为什么要站在那儿呢？但在追赶吉尔时，这个疑问很快便被抛至脑后了。
当我们到家后，几乎没有什么时间去尽情摆弄礼物，因为马上要去爷爷奶奶家共进一年一度的圣诞大餐。我们的车路经刚才那个街区时，我看到那家人仍站在紧闭的加油站门外。
爸爸沿着高速公路开得很慢，越接近去爷爷奶奶家的岔路口，车子就越慢。突然，爸爸在公路中间来了个一百八十度大转弯，原路返回，他说：“我实在不忍心！”
“什么？”妈妈问他。
“那几个站在泛美加油站门外淋雨的人，他们还带着小孩呢。今天是圣诞节，我怎么能忍心呢。”
爸爸把车停在了加油站旁边，我看见那一家共有五口人：父母和三个孩子——两个女孩，一个小男孩。
爸爸把车窗摇了下来，对他们说：“圣诞快乐！”
“你好！”那个男人答道。他个子很高，稍微弯下腰来朝我们车里看。
我和吉尔、莎伦盯着那几个小孩，他们也瞪眼看着我们。
“你们是在等车吗？”爸爸问。
男人说是，他们准备去伯明翰，他有个哥哥在那边，而且希望能在那找份工作。
“嗯，汽车至少得几个小时后才能来，站在这等，你们都会淋湿的。往前两英里是温邦车站，那儿有个遮棚，可以避雨，还有长凳可以坐。”爸爸说，“要不你们上车，我把你们捎到那儿吧？”
男人想了一下，然后示意家人过来。他们钻进车里，除了身上穿的衣服，没有任何行李。
等他们坐好了，爸爸回过头来问那几个孩子，圣诞老人有没有找到他们。三张忧郁的脸无声地回答了他。
“嗯，我不这么认为，”爸爸边说边眨眼暗示妈妈，“因为早上我遇到圣诞老人了，他说找不到你们，就问我是否能把给你们的礼物先寄存在我家。现在咱们就去拿礼物吧，一会儿我再送你们去车站。”
三个孩子的脸顿时神采飞扬，开始在后座上欢呼雀跃，笑笑嚷嚷起来。
到了我家，一下车，那三个孩子穿过大门就直奔圣诞树下的礼物。其中一个小女孩看到了吉尔的洋娃娃，立刻把它抱在怀里。我记得那小男孩把莎伦的小球抓去了，而另一个女孩则拿走了我的一件礼物。这是很久以前发生的事了，至今我仍记忆犹新。因为那个圣诞节，我和我的姐妹们感受到了使别人快乐的愉悦。
妈妈看到他们家老二穿的裙子是短袖的，便把吉尔唯一的一件毛衣送给了她。
爸爸邀请他们一起去爷爷奶奶家吃圣诞大餐，但他们夫妇拒绝了。不管我们怎么劝说，他们还是坚持他们的决定。
回到车上，返回温邦的路上，爸爸问那个男人是否有买车票的钱。
他说他哥哥把车票寄来了。
爸爸把手伸进了口袋里，掏出了仅有的两美元，那是我们熬到下次发工资前的所有钱。他把钱塞到那个男人的手里，男人试图把钱推回来，但爸爸坚持要他收下。“等你们到伯明翰时已经很晚了，路上孩子们会饿的。收下吧，我以前也曾一贫如洗，我理解，让家人挨饿的滋味很难受。”
把他们送到温邦的车站后，我们便离开了。当我们驱车离开时，我透过车窗望了他们好久，看着那个小女孩抱着她的新玩偶。
注释
[1]drizzle['drizl] n.毛毛雨
[2]huddled['hᴧdld] v.挤成一团，依偎（huddle的过去式和过去分词）
[3]mutely[mju:tli] ad.无言地，不发声地
爱莫大焉
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.
不管一切危险，由于一个普通人的无私行动，有人得救了，英雄就应运而生。
——斯蒂芬斯
我是在越南时听到这个故事的，而且有人说它是真事。虽然我无法确认它是否属实，但我知道，在战争中，比这更离奇的事情都发生过。
一次美军的例常炮击，击中了越南小村庄里的一所孤儿院，这是由一个传教团体创办的。那儿的众多传教士和一两个孤儿在炮击中丧命，还有更多的孩子在暴乱中受伤，其中包括一个8岁左右的小女孩。
村里的人请求附近一个小镇给予医疗救助，而该镇同美军部队之间有无线电联系。最后，一名美国海军的军医同他的护士带着他们的医疗器材，乘一辆吉普车到达了该村。他们确诊这个小女孩的伤势最严重，若不立即采取措施，她就会死于休克和失血。
必须立即为她输血，而且要找到一个血型同她相匹配的献血者。经过快速的化验，这两个美国人的血型都与小女孩不匹配，幸而有好几名未受伤的孤儿的血型都符合要求。
这位军医能讲几句洋泾浜的越南语，护士也能讲几句半生不熟的法语。二位将他们仅有的语言技能加到一起，再加上一些即兴手势，努力地向这些吓坏了的孩子解释——除非他们能够献出一些血，来补充这个小女孩失掉的血，否则她一定会死去。然后他们问孩子们，有谁愿意献血来救活这个孩子。
他们得到的回答却是孩子们睁大的眼睛和沉默。过了好久好久，才有一只小手慢慢吞吞地、犹犹豫豫地举起来，接着又放下去，接着再一次举起来。
“哦，谢谢你，”护士用法语说，“你叫什么名字？”
“恒。”孩子答道。
恒很快被放到一张简陋的小床上，护士用酒精擦洗了他的胳膊之后，将一根针头插进了他的静脉。在这个严酷的考验中，恒一直僵硬地躺着，默不作声。
过了一会儿，他发出了一声战栗的抽泣，迅速地用另外一只手掩住了自己的脸。
“痛吗，恒？”医生问道。恒摇了摇头。可是，没过多久，他又哽咽了一声，又一次竭力掩盖自己的哭泣。医生再一次问他针头是否扎痛了他，恒却再一次摇了摇头。
可是，这时他断断续续的抽泣已经无法克制，变成了一种持续的、无声的哭泣。他紧闭双目，把小拳头塞进嘴里，以控制自己的抽泣。
医生和护士感到十分不安，显然有什么出了错。这时，终于有一位越南护士来支援了。当她看见孩子的痛苦状态时，她很急切地用越南语对他说了几句话，在听了孩子的回答之后，她又用温柔的声音抚慰了孩子。
过了一会儿，小男孩停止了哭泣，然后诧异地看着这位越南护士。当护士点头时，一种巨大的释然才在孩子的脸上慢慢地展开。
越南护士抬起头来，看了一眼两个美国人，轻声地告诉他们：“他刚才以为自己要死了。他误解了你们的意思。他以为你们要他把自己所有的血都抽出来，才能救活那个小女孩呢。”
“但是，为什么他还愿意献血呢？”海军护士问道。
越南护士又向这个男孩重复了这个问题。男孩简单地答道：“因为她是我的朋友。”
没有人有这么伟大的爱——肯为一个朋友牺牲自己的生命。
注释
[1]orphanage['ɔ:fənidʒ] n.孤儿院
[2]outright['autˌrait] ad.全部，彻底，当场，立刻
[3]imperative[im'peretiv] a.必要的，紧急的，极重要的
[4]smattering['smætəriɳ] n.一知半解的知识
[5]stiff[stɪf] a.僵硬的；呆板的；生硬的
[6]stifle['staiʃl] v.（使）窒息；镇压；扼杀
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.
美丽语录
Every single thing you do,right now,affects your future.
现在你所做的每件小事，都会影响到你的未来。
两个旅途中的天使停在一户富足的人家借宿。这家人很粗鲁地拒绝让天使住在家里的客房中。他们把天使安排在冰冷的地下室的一个小角落里。当他们在坚硬的地板上铺床时，老天使发现墙上有一个洞，便顺手把洞补好了。当年轻的天使问其原因时，老天使回答：“事情并不总是如表面看上去那样。”
第二天晚上，这对天使到了一户很穷但很好客的农夫家中。在与天使分享了夫妇二人仅有的一点儿食物后，这对夫妇让天使睡自己的床，让他们能好好地休息一晚。第二天太阳升起的时候，天使发现农夫和妻子满眼的泪水——他们唯一的奶牛死在了牧场里，而这是他们仅有的收入来源。年轻的天使怒不可遏，质问老天使怎么不阻止这一切发生。第一个人拥有一切，但你帮了他，第二户人家很穷却愿意和人分享一切，而你没有阻止他们的奶牛死去。
“事情并不总是如表面看上去那样，”老天使回答道，“当我们待在大房子的地下室里时，我注意到那面墙的洞里藏有金子。因为那家主人如此贪婪，而且不愿意和人分享他的钱财，所以我就把洞封上了，这样他就找不到金子了。”
“当我们昨晚睡在农夫的床上时，死亡之神来了并想带走农夫的妻子。我让他带走了奶牛以代替她。所以事情并不总是如表面看上去那样。”
有时事情的表面并不像应该发生的那样，而以上就是实际所发生的情况。如果你有诚心，你只需要坚信付出必定会有回报。只是需要过一段时间，你才能发现这一点……
有些人只是我们生命中的匆匆过客……
有些成为了朋友，并在我们的生命中停留片刻……
在我们的心中留下了美丽的足迹……
我们绝不是一成不变的，因为我们交了一位好朋友！
昨天已成历史。
明天还是谜团。
今天是一份礼物。
这就是为什么今天被称为礼物。[5]
我相信此生是特别的……享受并品味每一时刻……
生活不是一场时装彩排！
带着这位小天使，和她亲密地在一起，她是专门派来照看你的守护天使。
注释
[1]mansion['mænʃn] n.宅第；公馆
[2]hospitable[hɔ'spitəbl] a.好客的；热情友好的
[3]infuriated[in'fjuəri:ˌeitid] v.使大怒，激怒（infuriate的过去式和过去分词）
[4]greed[gri:d] n.贪心；贪婪
[5]英语中“现在”也有“礼物”之意。
一杯牛奶的温暖
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.”
人不仅要做好事，更要以正确的方式做好事。
——乔琳·莫莉
一天，一个可怜的小男孩儿为凑足学费正挨家挨户地推销商品。他发现身上只剩一角钱了。他很饿，所以他决定从下一家讨口饭吃。
然而，当一位年轻貌美的女子打开门时，他却紧张得不知所措。他没有要吃的，只是乞求给他一口水喝。女子看到小男孩儿饥饿的样子，顿生怜悯之心，就倒了一大杯牛奶递给他。男孩慢慢地喝光了牛奶，问道：“我需要付您多少钱呢？”
“你不必付钱给我，”女子答道，“妈妈教育我说，爱心善举，不求回报。”男孩说：“那么我就由衷地向您说声谢谢！”当霍华德·凯利离开这所房子时，他觉得浑身充满了力量，也对上帝和整个人类充满了信心。而原本，他正打算放弃。
数年之后，那位女子得了重病，当地医生对此束手无策。最后，他们把她送到大城市去医治，由专家会诊，研究她这种罕见病症。著名的霍华德·凯利医生也参与了医疗方案的制订。当他得知这位病人来自那个城镇时，一个奇怪的念头在他的脑海中闪过，他马上起身，穿过医院的大厅直奔她的病房。
身着白大褂的凯利医生走进了病房，一眼便认出了那个女子，她正是他的恩人。回到会诊室后，他下定决心一定要竭尽全力挽救她的生命。从那天起，他就特别关照她的病情。
经过长期艰苦的努力，手术终获成功。凯利医生要求把医药费结算单送到他那儿，他看了一下，便在上面签了字。当结算单送到女子的病房时，她甚至不敢打开来看，因为她知道这医药费一定极其昂贵，或许她要用整个余生来偿还。最后，她还是鼓足勇气打开了看，她注意到单子旁边的一行小字，不禁小声地念起来：
“医药费缴足：一杯牛奶。”
霍华德·凯利医生（签名）
喜悦的泪水溢出了她的眼眶，她默默地祈祷着：“感谢您，上帝！您的爱已经通过人类的心灵和双手传递开来。”
注释
[1]critically['kritikli] ad.批判性地；严重地；危机地
[2]baffled['bæfld] v.使困难；使为难（baffle的过去式和过去分词）
[3]consultation room <体>诊察室，会议室
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 ...
美丽语录
One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life.That word is love.
有一个词可以让我们摆脱生活中所有的负担和痛苦，那就是“爱”。
同大部分作家一样，直到我亲身体验了一见钟情的魅力，我才相信了它的存在。
事情是这样开始的。放学之后，我和几个朋友在麦当劳吃饭。一个朋友讲了几个笑话，我们一边大笑一边谈论着。
就在那时，一群女孩走进来坐下了。其中有一个女孩非常醒目，她穿了一件引人注目的红色上衣，脸上带着甜美的微笑，整个人都光彩夺目。
当她们站在柜台前点餐时，我才注意到她们都有缺陷——她们不能说话。但我并不认为这是残疾；我向她们走过去，并问那个女孩要了电话号码，当时，她有些惊讶。
但她最终给了我她的地址，她叫伊莱恩，她家里没有电话，况且我们之间也不可能交谈，所以也没那个必要。
过了几天，我寄给她一封信，约她下个星期六出来玩。我也不能确定她是否同意约会。
我们本来约好在里多电影院看电影；我等了大概五分钟，她来了。她仍旧带着那张吸引着我的甜蜜的笑脸，让人沉醉。
我们在电影院里看了《冰河世纪》。我需要用到纸和笔，才方便与她交流。
我问她对我的感觉如何。她告诉我说她感到很幸福，但同时她又很担心，担心的是她自己并不能确定，我的爱是出于同情还是出自真心。
从那时起，我就一直问自己那个问题，直到在我考试结束的一个月之后，我打定了主意——我是真的爱她，而不是出于对她缺陷的同情。
我去了她家，这件事让她很吃惊；我把她从家里拉出来，一起跑去公寓楼前的公园里。我看着她，并把我的感受写给她看；她用一双又大又黑的眼睛盯着我，假设是你盯着这双眼睛的话，你也会觉得整个灵魂都被带走了。
她拿出笔写了这句话，“我也爱你，但既然我确信了你爱的就是我这个人，而不是出于同情心，我觉得自己并不会因为这个决定而后悔。”
如今我们在一起两年了，虽然我们还没决定结婚，但我从来都没和她吵过架，在纸上都没有过，将来也不会……
楼梯上的陌生人
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.
美丽语录
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
评价每一天，不是看你收获了多少，而是看你播种了什么。
一次简单的善举却带来了意想不到的领悟。
我到一家百货商店买东西，就在我踏上自动扶梯刚要下楼时，突然注意到旁边站着一位妇女。她看上去差不多有65岁，她脸上的表情告诉我她吓坏了。
我转过身向她问道：“需要帮忙吗？”
自动扶梯载着我继续向下移动，我只听到她温和地低声回答说：“我很害怕。”声音中流露出一丝迟疑。
“要我回来帮你吗？”我冲着她叫道。她点了点头。我又回到了楼上，可那个女人却改变了主意。“我不行。”她说。
直到这时，我才突然意识到这件事并不像我原想的那样简单。“我知道我们能行，”我说，“我会搀扶着你。”
她低下头，看着那个庞然大物，然后她转回头来看着我，目光中满是疑虑。“我以前从未遇到过这种情况。”她说道，既像是在对我说，又像是在自言自语。
我觉得她这种突如其来的恐惧与自动扶梯的机械性质有关——它归根结底是非人性的东西，很难给人以安全感。我拉起她的胳臂，问道：“可以吗？”我们迈上扶梯时，她轻轻地尖叫了一声。然而，既然我们已踏上了扶梯，也就不能再回头了。
直到扶梯载着我们下行了一段，她才略微放松下来。“我一点也不明白这种东西。”她说。我们接近扶梯底部时，她又一次紧紧握住我，但我们顺利走下了扶梯。“我不知怎么谢你才好……”她开口说道。“这没什么，”我说，“我很高兴这样做。”
我很高兴，的确如此。平时我很少帮助别人，整日忙于工作和照顾家庭。就在这一瞬间，我突然明白了为什么有人会去做护士、社会工作者或牧师。当我帮助这位妇女的时候，我感到我的生活是纯粹、完整和有意义的。这是我几周以来最快乐的时刻。
注释
[1]incredulity[ˌinkri'dju:liti] n.不轻信，怀疑
[2]purposeful['pə:pəsfəl] a.意味深长的，有目的的
生命中的美丽瞬间
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.
美丽语录
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.
你给予生活的，它都将回馈于你：不要憎恨任何人，那憎恨终有一天会回来；爱众人吧，终有一天，那爱也会回到你身边。
世界上最好的课堂在老人的脚下。
当你坠入爱河时，就会表露无遗。
让一个孩子在你的臂弯里入睡，你会体会到世间最平和的感觉。
善良比真理更为重要。
永远不要拒绝一个孩子送给你的礼物。
当无力给予他人帮助时，就为他祈祷。
不论生活要求你要变得多严肃，每个人都需要一个能够一起嬉戏的朋友。
有时候，一个人想要的只是一只可握的手和一颗理解的心。
金钱买不到风度。
每天的小小惊奇，让我们的生命如此多姿。
人在坚硬的外壳下，也都渴求着被爱，被赏识。
上帝并没有在一天内完成所有的事，我又凭什么认为自己可能呢？
如果你想报复某人，只会让那个人继续伤害你。
治愈一切伤痛的并非是时间，而是爱。
促进自己成长的最简单方法是与比自己更优秀的人为伴。
只有深爱一个人时才会认为他是完美的。
微笑是改善容貌的最不昂贵的方法。
爱是无条件的
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.
美丽语录
Never frown,even when you are sad,because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
纵然伤心，也不要愁眉不展，因为你不知谁会爱上你的笑容。
我曾有个朋友，我们的关系很亲密。有一次我们坐在游泳池边上，她往手掌里盛了点儿水，捧在我面前，说：
你仔细看我手上这水了吗？那代表爱。只要你充满关爱地弯曲着你的手指，并允许它保持在那儿，它会永远在那儿。但是，如果你试图把你的手指在它周围合起并试图占有它，它会通过它找到的缝溢出去。
这是人们在遇到爱时犯的最大错误……他们试图占有它，他们要求，他们期待，那样就像溢出你的手掌的水一样，爱会从你身边撤退。
因为爱意味着自由随意，你不能改变它的本性。
如果你有爱的人，允许他们自由随意地存在。给予而不指望；建议而不命令；请求而不要求；可能听起来简单，但这需要一辈子去实践。这就是真爱的秘诀。真正去实践它，你必须对那些你爱的人没有期望，并给予无条件的关爱。