登陆注册
1089100000009

第9章 在微尘与浮梁之上 (9)

His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing.

The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. “Now,” said the professor, “are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?”

The youth replied, “You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

一天,我们大学里一个年轻的学生和一位教授一起散步。这位仁慈的教授常被学生称为朋友,他对那些急切希望得到指教的学生非常友善。

途中,他们看到一双旧鞋放在路边,便猜测鞋子可能是某个在附近田地里劳作的穷人的,他一天的劳动可能就快结束了。

学生转过头对教授说:“我们愚弄他一下吧,把他的鞋先藏起来,然后躲到灌木丛后,等着看他找不到鞋子会是怎样困惑的表情。”

“年轻的朋友,”教授答道,“我们永远不该拿穷人取乐。如果你富有,就应该去帮助穷人,那样会让你获得更大的快乐。我们在每只鞋里各放一枚硬币,然后躲起来看他对这一意外发现有何反应。”

学生按教授说的做了,然后他们躲到附近的灌木丛中。

很快,那个穷人的劳动结束了,他走出田地,来到放外套和鞋子的小路上。他边穿外套,边把一只脚伸到鞋子里,但是感觉到鞋里有硬东西,他便弯下腰摸那是什么,他发现那竟是一枚硬币。

他吃惊地看着那枚硬币,又看另一面,如此看了又看。然后,扫视了一下周围,一个人影都看不到。他把这枚硬币装进口袋,又去穿另一只鞋,结果又发现了另一枚硬币,他更惊讶了。

他感动至极,双膝跪地,仰望上苍,大声地表达着自己的感激之情——正是陌生人的解囊相助,使他患病无助的妻子和食不果腹的孩子有了新的希望。

那名学生被深深地感动了,他的眼里饱含着泪水。“喏,”教授说,“这难道不比恶作剧更使你快乐吗?”

年轻人答道:“您给我上的这堂课我将永生难忘。现在,我终于明白了那句我一直都不理解的话:‘给予比接受更幸福。’”

赠人玫瑰,手有余香。如果你有能力,就应该去帮助别人,那样会让你获得更大的快乐。

1. “My young friend,” answered the professor, “we should_________ amuse ourselves at the expense of the_________. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a_________ into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch_________ the discovery affects him.”

2. The poor man soon_________ his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his_________; but feeling something_________, he stooped down to feel_________ it was, and found the coin.

3. The student stood there_________ affected, and his eyes filled with tears. “Now,” said the professor, “are you not much better_________ than if you had played your intended_________?”

1. 这位仁慈的教授常被学生称为朋友。

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. 正是陌生人的解囊相助,使他患病无助的妻子和食不果腹的孩子有了新的希望。

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. 您给我上的这堂课我将永生难忘。

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor.

at the expense of:在损害……情况下,以……为代价;由……承担费用

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes...

slip into:匆忙穿上;(使)滑进;塞进

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

接受不完美的人生

The Missing Piece

佚名 / Anonymous

Once a circle missed a wedge. The circle wanted to be whole, so it went around looking for its missing piece. But because it was incomplete and therefore could roll only very slowly, it admired the flowers along the way. It chatted with worms. It enjoyed the sunshine. It found lots of different pieces, but none of them fit. So it left them all by the side of the road and kept on searching. Then one day the circle found a piece that fit perfectly. It was so happy. Now it could be whole, with nothing missing. It incorporated the missing piece into itself and began to roll. Now that it was a perfect circle, it could roll very fast, too fast to notice the flowers or talking to the worms. When it realized how different the world seemed when it rolled so quickly, it stopped, left its found piece by the side of the road and rolled slowly away.

The lesson of the story, I suggested, was that in some strange sense we are more whole when we are missing something. The man who has everything is in some ways a poor man. He will never know what it feels like to yearn, to hope, to nourish his soul with the dream of something better.

There is a wholeness about the person who has come to terms with his limitations, who has been brave enough to let go of his unrealistic dreams and not feel like a failure for doing so. There is a wholeness about the man or woman who has learned that he or she is strong enough to go through a tragedy and survive, he or she can lose someone and still feel like a complete person.

Life is not a trap set for us by God so that he can condemn us for failing. Life is not a spelling bee, where no matter how many words you’ve gotten right, you’re disqualified if you make one mistake. Life is more like a baseball season, where even the best team loses one-third of its games and even the worst team has its days of brilliance. Our goal is to win more games than we lose.

When we accept that imperfection is part of being human, and when we can continue rolling through life and appreciate it, we will have achieved a wholeness that others can only aspire to. That, I believe, is what God asks of us—not “Be perfect” , not “Don’t even make a mistake”, but “Be whole” .

If we are brave enough to love, strong enough to forgive, generous enough to rejoice in another’s happiness, and wise enough to know there is enough love to go around for us all, then we can achieve a fulfillment that no other living creature will ever know.

同类推荐
  • 英文爱藏:淡定的人生不寂寞

    英文爱藏:淡定的人生不寂寞

    学英语不再枯燥无味——吴文智编著的《淡定的人生不寂寞》内文篇 目均取自国外最经典、最权威、最流行、最动人的篇章,中英双语,适于 诵读,提升阅读能力;学英语不再沉闷辛苦——优美的语言、深厚的情感 、地道的英文,让我们在阅读这些动人的绝美篇章时,不仅能够提升生活 质量,丰富人生内涵,更能够轻松提升英文领悟能力,体味英文之...
  • 那些难以忘怀的电影(每天读一点英文)

    那些难以忘怀的电影(每天读一点英文)

    该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐,特点有三:内文篇目取自中外最经典、最权威、最流行的读本,适于诵读;“实战提升”部分,包括影片赏析、单词注解、脱口而出的句子,在重温经典中轻松掌握地道英语!
  • 流行名人篇(老外最想和你聊的101个英语话题)

    流行名人篇(老外最想和你聊的101个英语话题)

    阅读本书,让你了解当下最流行的欧美文化名人。本书从世界范围内挑选出议论范围最广、影响力最大的名人,覆盖政治、经济、娱乐、商业、艺术等多方面,每个话题都包括背景介绍、常用句子、重点词汇以及一段情景对话。对话涵盖生活的方方面面,语言通俗易懂,所介绍的人物生动而不失深刻。《老外最想和你聊的101个英语话题:流行名人篇》以对话为主,注重口语,让读者不必死记硬背、死啃书本,最后导致“哑巴英语”,在遇到外国人时仍旧张不开嘴。这本书每节都有大量地道的、原汁原味的句子,读者可以在与外国人的日常交流中直接运用。
  • 世界上最美的情诗

    世界上最美的情诗

    《世界上最美的情诗》从诗歌宝库中精选了百余篇具有代表性的篇章,所选篇目皆出自于名家之手,它们语言优美,意境深邃,篇篇可谓人类文明的共同财富。同时在本书内容的选择上也力求广泛,它们或讴歌大自然,或吟咏爱情,或感叹人生,可谓包罗人生的方方面面。
热门推荐
  • 天才驭兽师:错惹腹黑帝

    天才驭兽师:错惹腹黑帝

    “这是你欠我的!”她微微一笑,嗜血冷眸寒光乍现,从此,废物白痴锋芒尽显,纵横天下。他身为皇族,却废物一枚,被人不齿。当心机魔女遇到腹黑恶魔男,爱恨纠葛永不断绝。“你不稀罕我可以,我稀罕你就成了!”腹黑男微微一笑,无耻卖乖。江山乱,风云起,黑吃黑的时代,他坏坏一笑:“娘子,手下留情哦。”
  • 钻石就在你家后院(提高学生学习能力的故事全集)

    钻石就在你家后院(提高学生学习能力的故事全集)

    站在生命的起跑线上,开始一场人生的马拉松赛跑,为什么起点相同,结局却迥然不同?秘诀就在于学习。学习能够点石成金、削璞为玉。提高学习能力,会让你从平庸中脱颖而出,踏上人生闪光大道,奔赴心中远大前程。
  • 爱你说不出口

    爱你说不出口

    本文主要是讲的一名转校生,因为某件事而选择转校。在新的学校,新的环境和人,所留下的一些淡淡的回忆,淡淡的忧伤......
  • 耍宝狂妃萌翻傻王爷

    耍宝狂妃萌翻傻王爷

    周宝儿,夜洛国首富的女儿,古灵精怪,聪慧无比,一朝失算,被迫嫁于夜洛国有名的傻子王爷。她本是21世纪最正常雇佣兵,不知哪位神仙打盹,害她嗝屁穿越,成了她,周宝儿。苏慕哲:夜洛国有名的傻子王爷,各个巧合间,他真的傻吗?大婚日,她报着必离的心态嫁给他。谁知竟还有小妾不省心,姐就拨点时间陪你们玩玩吧。他皇帝的贤妃敢打她老爹的屁股,她非斗得她心疼肺疼永无宁日。这是一个扮猪吃老虎,时不时霸气侧露的女主。这是一个表面平静,背地为皇位不惜弑杀亲兄弟,胜者为王的时代。这是一个宠夫宠到没边的故事。
  • 夫君来袭之娘子当自强

    夫君来袭之娘子当自强

    【正剧版简介】简介无能,看看就好,正文如何,任君点评。————————————睁开眼的那一刻,她挨了重重的一巴掌,脸颊通红,可是她却喜极而泣一梦穿越,竟找回了现代为她而亡的哥哥她是现代的复仇的女王,亦是今世萧家的小女,报仇得遂,她如今唯一的心愿就是守护萧家这一片宁静的天空可是萧家一门,荣冠江湖朝堂,得先帝丹书铁劵准其独家开采铁矿,这般荣宠,真真将萧家捧上了天,却也将萧家置于绝顶危险之中。三代已过,一门衰微,萧家风雨飘摇四方势起,江湖争霸,谁能成为五湖霸主?——————————————————温柔的他说,有我在,定护你一生。深情的他说,若你不愿离开萧家,便你娶,我嫁,如何?霸道的他说,从今往后,胆敢有一人犯你,我便灭他全家!狂放的他说:门口一匹马,如果你想走,我就陪你策马江湖,笑傲天涯还有他,他,他……她说她本是淡漠之人,无意掀纷争,却不想纷争自上门,无意惹桃花,却不料路过亦染身……她说,她有一根青竹盲竿,可以为她寻一条明路,却不知如何面对这许多的厚爱深情……—————————————————————【片段一】繁星点点,星光如梦,她与他相隔三步他问她:你究竟在怕什么?对我的感情,向前一步就这么困难么?她闭上双眼,思绪飘向遥远不知何方的未来:我只怕梦里不知身是客【片段二】暖风徐徐,花香阵阵,她靠在他的肩头他问她:小妹,世人皆笑我,你,会嫌弃我吗?她紧张的抓着他的手臂:哥,你会不要小妹么?【附送小白片段三】轰隆隆,天老爷在打雷某男抱着某女撒娇道:打雷了,好怕怕,小颜颜,伦家今晚跟你睡好不好?某女一脚将男人踹下去:惊雷掌不是你的绝技吗?装什么装!
  • 输什么不能输心情:情绪决定办事的成败和输赢

    输什么不能输心情:情绪决定办事的成败和输赢

    工作或生活中的每一个人,都会遇到不顺利的事,都会有心情郁闷的时候如果让这种抑郁的心情恣意发展下去,抑郁的程度一定越来越厉害,不仅于事无补,还会衍生出更多的新的烦恼、因此,一个人无论正在面临什么问题,正在遭遇什么烦恼,都不要因此输了心情,输了心情,就等于输了全部。有了好的心情,哪怕遇到再大的困难,再大的挫折,也有重新开始、东山再起的资本。正像法国的文学家乔治·桑说的那样“心情愉快是肉体和精神土的最佳卫生法”。《输什么不能输心情:情绪决定办事的成败和输赢》告诉读者面对成败输赢,要善于调控情绪,把握心态。不能悲观、气馁甚至绝望,不能在内心把自己打垮。
  • 食味记

    食味记

    一朝穿越入农家,花小麦表示,奔放的人生无须解释。 朝起炊饭香,晚来烹鱼虾,日子有色又有味,节操什么的,都是浮云。 二姐说,遇见好男人,便要果断扑倒之,花小麦摩拳擦掌,某男倒退三步。 “娘子莫急,这种事,还是放着我来。” ------------------------------ 新书《娇颜》上传,欢迎少年们围观么么哒O(∩_∩)O
  • 重生之歌坛传奇

    重生之歌坛传奇

    一场车祸,让他拥有了另外一个世界自己的记忆,脑海中多了无数经典的歌曲。“他因‘新锐女生’而崛起,但‘新锐女生’却因他而传世,他是唯一一个因为女生选秀节目而成名的男生!”“这是一个奇迹,从来没有人能做到他这种地步!”“他就是传奇,流行乐坛因为有他而无限精彩!”“自从他声名鹊起后,不仅国内的金曲奖没了悬念,就连欧美的格莱美也没了悬念!”“他是歌手的金手指,可以让任何人成为歌王或者歌后!”“其实,我只是音乐的一个传播者。”面对荣誉,叶落如是说。
  • 相公岂敢把我弃:王爷恋上下堂妻

    相公岂敢把我弃:王爷恋上下堂妻

    大户小姐,好吃懒做,骄横跋扈,进门就被丈夫休掉的合法妻……本是超能力少女,无奈穿越成王爷下堂妻,没功夫怨天怨地,坚持就是胜利。看超聪慧下堂妻如何智斗阴险后妈,脚踢狡诈小三,虏获美男心!天上下雨地上流,你不爱我我不愁。小姐聪慧又美丽,相公岂敢把我弃。(*^__^*)
  • 冰火劫情:九命妖妃

    冰火劫情:九命妖妃

    她是一只修炼九百年的灵猫,一朝穿越,是人,亦是妖!他是天穆国人人不齿的废柴王爷,散漫不羁,与人无争,却依然逃不脱权势争夺的漩涡!相遇,是上天的作弄,还是不可捉摸的缘?当命运轮回,冰与火碰撞出爱意,她幡然醒悟,原来她所寻觅的一直就在身边!