生命是一場旅行（上） 第一卷 生命的秘密

{

\"code\": 200,

\"title\": \"\",

\"content\": \"The Secret of Life\\n\\nThe Secret of Life\\n\\n生命的秘密\\n\\nAs the Lord God was creating the world he called upon his archangels. The Lord asked his archangels to help him decide where to put the Secret of Life.\\n\\n\\\"Bury it in the ground,\\\" one angel replied.\\n\\n\\\"Put it on the bottom of the sea,\\\" said another.\\n\\n\\\"Hide it in the mountains,\\\" another suggested.\\n\\nThe Lord replied, \\\"If I see to do any of those, only a few will find the Secret of Life. The Secret of Life must be accessible to EVERY-ONE!\\\"\\n\\nOne angel replied, \\\"I know: put it in each man's heart. Nobody will think to look there.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"Yes!\\\" said the Lord. \\\"Within each one's heart.\\\"\\n\\nAnd so it was —— The SECRET OF LIFE lies within all of us.\\n\\n上帝創造世界的時候召來了他的天使長們，請他們幫助決定應該把生命的秘密放在哪裡。\\n\\n“把它埋在地下。”一個天使答道。\\n\\n“把它放到海底。”另一個說道。\\n\\n“把它藏在山裡。”又一個天使建議。\\n\\n上帝回答說：“如果我照你們說的方法做的話，那麼這個世界上隻有一小部分人能找到它。而我希望每個人都有可能找到生命的秘密！”\\n\\n一個天使答道：“我知道了，把它放在每個人的心裡。冇有哪個人會想到它被放在那兒。”\\n\\n“對啊！”上帝非常讚同，“放在每個人的心裡。”\\n\\n於是真的——生命的秘密就在我們每個人的心裡。\\n\\nJoy in the Journey\\n\\n生命重在過程\\n\\nIf you have ever been discouraged because of failure, please read on.\\n\\nFor often, achieving what you set out to do is not the important thing. Let me explain.\\n\\nTwo brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.\\n\\n\\\"What are you doing?\\\" asked one of the visitors.\\n\\n\\\"We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!\\\" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.\\n\\nThe older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.\\n\\nAfter a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors.\\n\\nThen he said quietly and confidently, \\\"Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!\\\"\\n\\nTheir goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for-to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!\\n\\nBut not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized.\\n\\nBut when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, \\\"Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!\\\"\\n\\nIt is in the digging that life is lived. And I believe it is joy in the journey, in the end, that truly matters.\\n\\n如果你曾因失敗沮喪過，請繼續讀下去。\\n\\n完成你經常開始要做的事可不是大事，讓我娓娓道來。\\n\\n有兄弟倆人決定在他們房子後麵挖一個深洞。就在他們不停挖洞時，幾個年齡大點的男孩在附近停下來觀看。\\n\\n“你們在做什麼？”其中一個問道。\\n\\n“我們計劃挖一個洞，一直穿過地球到達另一端！”兄弟倆中的一個興奮地搶先說道。\\n\\n這些大男孩開始大笑，告訴這兩個兄弟挖洞穿過地球是不可能的。\\n\\n長長的沉寂之後，其中一個挖掘者從洞裡拿出一個裝滿蜘蛛、蠕蟲和各種各樣昆蟲的罐子，他打開蓋子把這些奇妙的東西展示給那些嘲諷者看。\\n\\n然後他平靜而又自信地說：“即使我們挖不到地球另一端，但看看我們途中發現的東西！”\\n\\n他們的目標是太過於雄心勃勃了，但確實鼓勵他們去做了。而這就是目標之所在——使我們朝著我們所選擇的方向前進，換句話說，就是讓我們去挖掘！\\n\\n但不是每一個目標都會完全實現，也不是每一樣工作都能夠最終成功；不是每一種關係都能夠持久，也不是每一絲希望都能夠達成；不是每一次愛都能夠天長地久，不是每一次努力都會碩果累累，也不是每一個夢想都能夠實現。\\n\\n但當你冇有達到目標時，也許你可以說：“是的，但看看我們途中所發現的東西！看看這些因為我儘力去做而走進我生活的美妙東西！”\\n\\n生命正是在挖掘的過程中才具有活力。而且我相信到最後真正要緊的還是過程中的樂趣。\\n\\nFocus on the Joy\\n\\n為快樂而做\\n\\nIt's the Holiday Season—a new year is just around the corner! I'll bet you're already thinking about how you'd like next year to be a little different than the last, right?\\n\\nBut instead of thinking of performance, and efficiency, and control, I'd like you to take this opportunity to think about how many things in your daily life that you do \\\"just for the joy of it\\\"?\\n\\nWhat I'm talking about here is value-based happiness (as opposed to temporary happiness).\\n\\nValue-based happiness refers to the general feeling of well being that you experience when you are doing what you perceive to be meaningful—when it's something that's important to you.\\n\\nWhen you love what you do, you naturally become more efficient. When you do things for the joy of It, you'll rise above problems, and move easier through life.\\n\\nValue-based happiness is a by product from living a life Focused on the Joy. It is the by product of doing things not for what you get in return, not because you \\\"should\\\" or \\\"have-to\\\", but because you want to, because they are a part of your highest goals, and what you value.\\n\\nValue-based happiness comes from looking at things with your heart, not just your eyes.\\n\\nYou create value-based happiness by Focusing on the Joy of life, instead of constantly looking for the next new thing that might make you feel better about yourself, about your life.\\n\\nSo how do you Focus on the Joy?\\n\\nThrow out your ideas about control, effectiveness, and goals. (Yes, they are important, but let's just try something different, ok?)\\n\\nInstead—\\n\\nFocus on Learning. Instead of making a goal to achieve more in your job, decide instead to read and learn how to do one new thing each week.\\n\\nFocus on Time. Schedule your time to include what's important to you, like reading time, or exercise time, or family time, or learning time.\\n\\nFocus on the Why. Instead of just forcing yourself to mop the kitchen floor, tap into the higher goal that mopping the kitchen floor supports (having a clean and healthy home).\\n\\nHow does that feel? Not bad, huh! If you focus on the pleasure that a desire gives you, you'll find it easier to put in the work that it takes. (One author gives the example of giving blood—while the experience itself may be less than pleasant, the joy comes in knowing \\\"why\\\" you're doing it).\\n\\nAnd I absolutely guarantee that you will achieve more, maintain your efforts, and have a much better journey along the way.\\n\\nOver the next 12 months, instead of focusing on the effort, FOCUS ON THE JOY. Focus on the people and things that are most important to you. Focus on the pleasure you get out of moving towards your goals. Focus on the process of creating something, not what results you expect.\\n\\nInvest in yourself more than you ever thought was allowed. Not only will you reap rewards, but those around you will benefit more than you ever believed.\\n\\n又到假期了——新的一年就要來臨了！我相信你一定考慮了來年如何比今年多些變化，對否？\\n\\n不過，你不要考慮什麼業績、效率以及管理，我建議你趁此機會想一想，在日常生活中有多少事情你是“為了快樂纔去做”的呢？\\n\\n我在這兒所談的是基於價值的幸福（與暫時的幸福相反）。\\n\\n基於價值的幸福是指，當你做自己認為有意義的事情時——在你看來很重要的事情——所體驗到的普遍幸福感。\\n\\n如果你喜歡自己做的事情，你自然會乾得更有效率。如果你從所做的事情中得到快樂，你就會超越於問題，使生活變得更加容易。\\n\\n基於價值的幸福是為了快樂而生活所帶來的出乎意料的結果，是你做事情不圖回報的結果。不是因為你“應該做”或者“必須做”，而是因為你想做，因為它們是你的最高目標的一部分，你珍惜它。\\n\\n基於價值的幸福來自你看待事物的心靈，而不僅來自你的眼睛。\\n\\n你通過注重生活的快樂而創造了基於價值的幸福，而不是總在尋找下一個能使自己或者你的生活感覺更好的目標。\\n\\n那麼，如何注重生活中的歡樂呢？\\n\\n把你的有關管理、效率和目標等觀念統統拋到一邊。（它們的確重要，不過，讓我們嘗試一下彆的，好嗎？）\\n\\n相反——\\n\\n注重學習。不要為自己的工作定一個目標，以取得更多的成績，而是下決心每週讀書或者學會做一件新的事情。\\n\\n注重時間。把一些重要的事情安排到你的日程中，例如讀書時間、鍛鍊時間、與家人團聚的時間，或者學習時間。\\n\\n注重原因。不要強迫自己去拖廚房的地板，選擇更高的目標（擁有一個清潔健康的家庭）。\\n\\n你覺得怎麼樣？不錯吧？哈哈！如果你注重自己所期望的歡樂，你會發現深入工作中很容易。（一位作家舉了獻血的例子——體驗本身可能不是那麼有趣，快樂源於清楚自己這麼做的原因）。\\n\\n我絕對敢保證你會得到更多，繼續努力，你會擁有更好的經曆。\\n\\n來年的12個月，不要隻注重苦乾了，要注重歡樂。注重對你來說最重要的人和事物。注重你在取得目標的過程中所得到的歡樂。注重創造事物的過程，而不是你期望得到的結果。\\n\\n賦予自己比所期望的更多，不但你能收到回報，而且超出你的想象，連你周圍的人也會受益。\\n\\nFour Seasons of a Tree\\n\\n樹木的四季\\n\\nDon't judge a life by one difficult season.\\n\\nThere was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.\\n\\nThe first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.\\n\\nWhen they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.\\n\\nThe first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no - it was covered with green buds and full of promise.\\n\\nThe third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.\\n\\nThe last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.\\n\\nThe man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree's life.\\n\\nHe told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are - and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life - can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.\\n\\nIf you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.\\n\\n不要隻在某人某段艱難的歲月裡去判斷他的一生。\\n\\n從前，一個父親有4個兒子。他希望兒子們能學會凡事勿匆下結論，於是輪番派遣他們到很遠的地方去尋一棵梨樹。\\n\\n大兒子是冬天去的，二兒子春天啟程，老三去時已是炎熱的夏季，老麼於金秋時節踏上了征程。\\n\\n待他們全都尋樹歸來以後，父親把他們叫到一起，聽他們各自描述自己的所見。\\n\\n大兒子數落說大樹枝彎乾斜，很難看。二兒子連忙否認，說樹上發滿嫩綠的新芽，生機盎然。\\n\\n老三不同意了，樹上明明開滿鮮花，吐露芬芳，漂亮極了。\\n\\n他們的說法實在讓老麼啞然，枝頭上墜滿的難道不是累累果實，在彰顯生機與收穫嗎？\\n\\n父親解釋說，兒子們的說法都冇錯，因為他們看到的是大樹一年四個季節裡的不同情景。\\n\\n他告訴兒子們說，不能以一季來判斷樹，更不能以一時來判斷人，因為人之本質——源自他們喜、樂、愛的根本——隻有在其生之了結時，纔可蓋棺論定。\\n\\n倘若你在冬季就已放棄，那無疑會錯過春季的生機、夏季的美麗和秋季的收益。勿為一季的痛苦而破壞了所有的歡樂。\\n\\nNothing to sell and nothing to buy\\n\\n不賣也不買\\n\\nIt has been said that everyone lives by selling something. In the light of this statement, teachers live by selling knowledge, philosophers by selling wisdom and priests by selling spiritual comfort. Though it may be possible to measure the value of material good in terms of money, it is extremely difficult to estimate the true value of the services which people perform for us. There are times when we would willingly give everything we possess to save our lives, yet we might grudge paying a surgeon a high fee for offering us precisely this service. The conditions of society are such that skills have to be paid for in the same way that goods are paid for at a shop. Everyone has something to sell.\\n\\nTramps seem to be the only exception to this general rule. Beggars almost sell themselves as human being to arouse the pity of passers-by. But real tramps are not beggars. They have nothing to sell and require nothing from others. In seeking independence, they do not sacrifice their human dignity. A tramp may ask you for money, but he will never ask you to feel sorry for him. He has deliberately chosen to lead the life he leads and is fully aware of the consequences. He may never be sure where the next meal is coming from, but his is free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict other people. His few material possessions make it possible for him to move from place to place with ease. By having to sleep in the open, he gets far closer to the world of nature than most of us ever do. He may hunt, beg, or stead occasionally to keep himself alive; he may even, in times of real need, do a little work; but he will never sacrifice his freedom. We often speak of my even, in times of real need, do a little work; but he will never sacrifice his freedom. We often speak of tramps with contempt and put them in the same class as beggars, but how many of us can honestly say that we have not felt a little envious of their simple way of life and their freedom from care?\\n\\n據說每個人都靠出售某種東西來維持生活。根據這種說法，教師靠賣知識為生，哲學家靠賣智慧為生，牧師靠賣精神安慰為生。雖然物質產品的價值可以用金錢來衡量，但要估算彆人為我們所提供的服務的價值卻是極其困難的。有時，我們為了挽救生命，願意付出我們所占有的一切。但就在外科大夫給我們提供了這種服務後，我們卻可能為所支付的昂貴的費用而抱怨。社會上的情況就是如此，技術是必須付錢去買的，就像在商店裡要花錢買商品一樣。人人都有東西可以出售。\\n\\n在這條普遍的規律前麵，好像隻有流浪漢是個例外，乞丐出售的幾乎是他本人，以引起過路人的憐憫。但真正的流浪漢並不是乞丐。他們既不出售任何東西，也不需要從彆人那兒得到任何東西，在追求獨立自由的同時，他們並不犧牲為人的尊嚴。遊浪漢可能會向你討錢，但他從來不要你可憐他。他是故意在選擇過那種生活的，並完全清楚以這種方式生活的後果。他可能從不知道下頓飯有無著落，但他不像有人那樣被千萬樁愁事所折磨。他幾乎冇有什麼財產，這使他能夠輕鬆自如地在各地奔波。由於被迫在露天睡覺，他比我們中許多人都離大自然近得多。為了生存，他可能會去打獵、乞討，偶爾偷上一兩回；確實需要的時候，他甚至可能乾一點兒活，但他決不會犧牲自由。說起流浪漢，我們常常帶有輕蔑並把他們與乞丐歸為一類。但是，我們中有多少人能夠坦率地說我們對流浪漢的簡樸生活與無憂無慮的境況不感到有些羨慕呢？\\n\\nNever Give Up Hope\\n\\n永不放棄希望\\n\\nLife doesn't always give us the joys we want. We don't always get our hopes and dreams, and we don't always get our own way. But don't give up hope, because you can make a difference one situation and one person at a time.\\n\\nLook for the beauty around you--in nature, in others, in yourself--and believe in the love of friends, family, and humankind. You can find love in a smile or a helping hand, in a thoughtful gesture or a kind word. It is all around, if you just look for it.\\n\\nGive love, for in giving it you will find the power in life along with the joy, happiness, patience and understanding. Believe in the goodness of others and remember that anger and depression can be countered by love and hope. Even when you feel as though there isn't a lot you can do to change unhappiness or problems, you can always do a little--and a little at a time eventually makes a big difference.\\n\\nHope is always available to us. When we feel defeated, we need only take a deep breath and say, \\\"Yes,\\\" and hope will reappear.\\n\\n生活並非總是如你所願。希望有時會落空，夢想有時會破滅，我們不能一切隨心所願。但彆放棄希望，因為事物並非一成不變；不同時間，不同場合，你會呈現不同的麵貌。\\n\\n處處留心你身邊的美麗：自然中的美，他人的美，你自己的美。請相信，美來自朋友、家庭乃至全人類的融融愛意。一個微笑，一雙援助之手，一個關心的舉止，一句友善的話語，無不傳達著愛。如果你有心去尋找，愛無所不在。\\n\\n奉獻愛心吧，從中你會發現生活的力量，感受生活帶來的幸福快樂，學會忍耐和理解。相信人性本善。記住，愛心和希望能化解一切憤怒和沮喪。哪怕生活中揮之不去的不快和困難將你重重包圍，讓你力不從心，但你仍可以儘力而為。累積點滴努力，最終你將扭轉乾坤。\\n\\n希望一直就在我們身邊。當我們遇到挫折時，請深呼一口氣並對自己說：我可以做到！希望就會重現。\\n\\nHappiness may be just a phone call\\n\\n幸福隻是打一個電話\\n\\nT he telephone rang and I reached to answer it.\\n\\n“Hi, Steve,” said the voice on the other end. “I just wanted to see how you’re getting along.”\\n\\nI had not heard from my old friend for many months. It was good to talk to him. I wondered why hadn’t we kept in touch better.\\n\\nToward the end of the conversation, he said, “If you need me in any way, I’ll be happy to help out.” And he meant it!\\n\\nThat call came at just the right time, as they so often do. I needed those words of encouragement. I hung up the phone, feeling a satisfying lump1 of warmth in my chest.\\n\\nAnd that day I relearned something important about life: life is primarily about people—not plans and schedules, not to-do lists and a million tasks left undone—it’s about people.\\n\\nTo love and to know that we are loved is the greatest happiness of existence. And happiness seems to be something that is in short supply for too many of us! My friend reminded me that it is never enough just to love; we must also express it. What good are our affectionate feelings toward others if we don’t find ways to let them know?\\n\\nGeorge William Childs put it like this: “Do not keep the alabaster3 box of your love and friendship sealed up4 until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go.”\\n\\nHappiness may be just a phone call.\\n\\n電話鈴響了，我伸手去接。\\n\\n“嗨，史蒂夫，”電話那頭有個聲音說。“我隻是想看看你過得怎麼樣。”\\n\\n我已經有好幾個月冇有收到老朋友的訊息了。跟他說話的感覺真好。我不知道我們為什麼冇有經常聯絡。\\n\\n談話快結束的時候，他說：“隻要你需要我，我都會很高興地伸出援手的。”他是真心誠意的。\\n\\n像往常一樣，那個電話來得正是時候。我需要那些鼓勵的話語。我掛上電話，心裡熱乎乎的，覺得很滿足。\\n\\n那天，我重新認識了生活中某些重要的東西：生活首先是關於人的——不是計劃，也不是進度，不是要做的事情清單以及待做的無數的任務——它是關於人的。\\n\\n去愛、知道自己被愛著是存在的最偉大的幸福。幸福似乎就是供不應求的某種東西！我的朋友提醒我，光有愛是絕對不夠的。我們還得表達出來。如果冇有辦法讓他們知道，那麼我們對他們懷有一腔愛意又有什麼用呢？\\n\\n布希·威廉·蔡爾德曾這樣形容道：“如果你愛你的朋友們，就勇敢地說出來，不要在他們離開你的時候才後悔你曾經吝惜過你的愛和友誼。讓他們的生活因有你的愛而變得甜蜜。在他們歡欣雀躍時，說出你的讚揚和鼓勵，不要等友人離去時才追悔莫及。”\\n\\n幸福……也許隻是打一個電話。\\n\\nHold more merciful than angry\\n\\n仁慈比惱怒更持久\\n\\nI had always wanted to settle down in my hometown. A house became available across the street from my childhood home, but I was apprehensive about the realtor, our former neighbor, Mrs Knight.\\n\\nMy brother, Guy, and I could never contain our baseball playing to our own property. But we were careful to stay clear of Mrs Knight’s yard. Her husband had suffered several strokes and whenever he fell out of his wheelchair or bed, Mrs Knight called us over to help her lift him. Besides that, she kept to herself, and her gardening.\\n\\nOne day Guy threw my brand-new baseball right in Mrs Knight’s flowers! I tiptoed into her yard only to have her burst onto the porch. “What are you doing?” she demanded. I mumbled something, turned tail and ran.\\n\\nMy guilt came back to me while Mrs Knight showed me the house for sale. Afterward, she invited me over for lemonade. I politely obliged, hoping she wouldn’t reminisce about the time I ruined her flowers.\\n\\nIn her kitchen, she opened a drawer and pulled out an aged baseball. “I found this in my flower bed years ago,” she said, “When I needed strength I looked at it and remembered the boys who had always been there for my husband and me.” She tossed me the ball, “I always know what a comfort you were.”\\n\\nI keep that ball on my bookshelf. And it is a reminder that kindness outlives.\\n\\n我一直想在家鄉安居。在我兒時的家所在街道的對麵有一所房子正在轉讓，但我害怕房主——我們以前的鄰居，奈特夫人。\\n\\n我和哥哥蓋伊打棒球從來不可能不超出我們自己家的小院，但我們很小心地不讓球侵入奈特夫人家的院子。她丈夫中風好幾次了，不管什麼時候，隻要他從輪椅或者從床上跌下來，奈特夫人都會喊我們過去幫她扶起他。除此之外，其他事情她都自己做，包括打理花園。\\n\\n一天，蓋伊將我那個嶄新的棒球不偏不倚正好扔到奈特夫人的花叢裡去了！我躡手躡腳地走進她家院子，但還是被她發現了。她衝到走廊上，問道：“你在乾什麼？”我嘟噥著轉身而逃。\\n\\n當奈特夫人帶我看待售的房子時，內疚感又湧上心頭。後來，她邀請我過去喝檸檬水。我禮貌地去了，心裡暗暗地希望她不會想起我毀壞她花草的事。\\n\\n在她家的廚房裡，她打開一個抽屜，拿出一個陳舊的棒球。“這是我多年前在花床裡找到的，”她說，“當我需要力量時，我就看看它，想想那兩個總是過來幫我和我丈夫的小男孩。”她把棒球扔給我，“我一直知道你們倆是多麼令人安慰。”\\n\\n我把那個棒球放在書架上。它讓我記得仁慈比惱怒更持久。\\n\\nA cab traveling\\n\\n計程車之行\\n\\nTwenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy’s life, a life for someone who wanted no boss. Because I drove at night, my cab became a moving confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me and told me about their lives, though I didn’t know their names at all. I met people whose lives amazed me, ennobled me, made me laugh and weep. But none touched me more than a woman I picked up late one August night.\\n\\nI was responding to a call from a small brick house in a quiet part of town. I thought I was being sent to pick up some partiers, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory for the industrial part of town. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.\\n\\nUnder such circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many poor people. They depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my help, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked.\\n\\n“Just a minute,”answered a weak, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a hat with a veil, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The house looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were even no clocks on the walls. In the corner was a box filled with photos and glassware.\\n\\n“Would you carry my bag out to the car?”she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,”I told her.“I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated”.\\n\\n“Oh, you’re such good boy,” she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked,“Can you drive through downtown?”\\n\\n“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.” I looked in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were glistening. “I don’t have any family left,” she continued.“The doctor says I don’t have very long.”\\n\\nI quietly reached over and shut off the meter.“What route would you like me to take?” I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture factory that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.\\n\\nAs the sun was rising from the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.” We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two men came out to the cab as soon as we stopped. They were eager and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.\\n\\n“How much do I owe you?” she asked, reaching into her purse.\\n\\n“Nothing,” I said.\\n\\n“You have to make a living,” she answered.\\n\\n“There are other passengers,”I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.\\n\\n“You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said.“Thank you.” I held her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought.\\n\\nFor the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.\\n\\n二十年前，我以開出租車為生。那是種牛仔式的生活，是不想有老闆管的人過的生活。因為我是晚上開車，我的車就成了移動的懺悔室。乘客坐上來，坐在我後麵，跟我說著他們的生活，雖然我壓根不知道他們是誰。在我遇到的這些人中，有些人的生活讓我覺得驚奇，有的讓我心生敬意，有的讓我笑，有的讓我哭。但最打動我的是一個在8月的深夜裡坐我車的老太太。\\n\\n那天，有人從鎮上僻靜地區的一座磚房預約了我的車。我想應該是一些開派對的人，或是哪個跟愛人吵了一架的人，或是去鎮上工業區的工廠輪早班的工人叫我去接他們。當我夜裡2點半到達那裡時，房子是漆黑的，隻有一樓的窗戶那兒亮著一盞燈。\\n\\n在這種情形下，很多司機隻是遠遠地鳴兩聲喇叭，等上一小會兒，如果冇人答應就把車開走了。但我見過很多窮人，出租車是他們惟一可依賴的交通工具。除非我覺得危險，我總是走到門前。乘客也許需要我的幫助，我這樣說服自己。於是我向房子走去，敲了敲門。\\n\\n“等一會兒，”一個年老的、虛弱的聲音回答道。我聽見什麼東西在地板上拖著走。等了好長一會兒，門開了。一個瘦小的80多歲的老太太站在我麵前。她穿著印花裙子，戴著有麵紗的帽子，就像是某個從20世紀40年代的電影中走出來的人物。她身邊是一個尼龍的手提包。這個房子像很多年冇人住過一樣。所有的傢俱都被被單罩著。牆上連個鐘都冇有，角落的箱子裡裝滿了照片和玻璃器皿。\\n\\n“可以幫我把包提到車上嗎？”她說。我把手提包提到出租車上，接著回去幫她。她搭著我的手，我們慢慢地走向街邊。她不停地感謝我的好心。“冇什麼，”我告訴她，“我希望我母親得到怎樣的待遇，我就怎樣對待我的乘客。”\\n\\n“噢，你真是個好孩子，”她說。我們坐進車裡，她給了我一個地址，接著問，“你能從市區裡走嗎？”\\n\\n“這不是最近的路，”我迅速回答道。“哦，我不介意，”她說，“我不著急，我這是去救濟院。”我從後視鏡中看過去，她眼中閃著淚光。“我冇有任何家人，”她繼續說，“醫生說我的日子不長了。”\\n\\n我靜靜地伸出手，把裡程錶關了。“你想走哪條路線？”我問。在下麵的兩個鐘頭裡，我們開著車穿過城市。她指給我看她曾做電梯操作員的那座大樓。我們穿過她和她丈夫新婚時住的地方。她讓我在一個傢俱廠門前停下，那曾是個舞廳，她年輕時在那兒跳過舞。有時她會讓我在某個特彆的建築或角落那兒減速，她坐在黑暗中，凝視著它們，一語不發。\\n\\n當太陽從地平線上升起時，她突然說，“我累了，我們走吧。”我們靜靜地向她給的地址開去。那是個低矮的樓房，它的車道是從門廊下麵穿過去的。我們剛停下來，有兩個人向車走來。他們急切而熱心地看著她走過每一步。他們一定在等她。我打開後備箱，把小包拿到門那兒，老太太已經坐在輪椅上了。\\n\\n“我該給你多少錢？”她問，伸手去拿她的錢包。\\n\\n“不要錢，”我回答。\\n\\n“你得生活，”她說。\\n\\n“還有其他的乘客，”我答道。我不假思索地彎下身子和她擁抱。她緊緊地抱著我。\\n\\n“你讓一個老太婆有了片刻的快樂，”她說，“謝謝！”我握了握她的手，接著向那清晨微弱的陽光中走去。在我的身後，一扇門關上了。這是一個生命被關上的聲音。那個輪班中我冇再載其他乘客。我漫無目的地開著車，陷入沉思。\\n\\n在那天剩下的時光裡，我幾乎冇有與人交談。如果那位老太太遇見一位生氣的或冇耐心的司機，如果我拒絕出車，或隻遠遠地鳴一聲喇叭就開走？迅速地回憶一下，我認為這是我一生中做過的最重要的事情。\\n\\nKindness of strangers\\n\\n陌生的巴士司機\\n\\nWhen I enrolled in a university course three years ago, I was surprised at how lonely a place it could be. Overcoming my shyness, I shared friendly smiles with potential friends. One such university friend invited me over to her place for a dinner party. I was thrilled, and after checking the details, I gladly accepted.\\n\\nNot really knowing how long the bus ride should be, I alighted when I saw the landmarks specified by my friend's hand-drawn map. It was dark, so it was not until I got close enough to the street signs that I started to panic. None of the streets was shown on the map. I was standing on a busy road with cars zooming past and not a soul in sight. I had no idea when the next bus would come. So when a bus came by, I eagerly boarded it.\\n\\nI told the bus driver where I intended to go and he said that I had caught the wrong bus, but let me stay on. After he had finished his scheduled bus route he offered to help me out. I gratefully showed him my little hand-drawn map but its simplicity did not help matters much.\\n\\nHe finally dropped me at a main road to catch a different bus and was apologetic that he could not help me more.\\n\\nAfter a few minutes of walking, I noticed a bus pull up beside me. It was the same bus driver. He explained that he could not leave me stranded and really wanted to help me out. He sent out a call and someone radioed back, saying the bus I was to catch was about ten minutes away. I made it to the dinner party, although over an hour late.\\n\\nI am forever grateful for the concern this bus driver had for me. His act of kindness had an impact on my night but more importantly, he left an imprint on my heart.\\n\\n三年前，當我到大學報到時，驚訝地發現學校所在的位置太偏僻了。克服了自己害羞的性格，我與未來可能成為朋友的同學們相對而笑。他們中的一個人邀請我到她家去參加晚餐派對。我有點緊張，但在問清楚了具體情況之後，我愉快地接受了邀請。\\n\\n我並不清楚巴士要開多遠纔到，在發現朋友手繪地圖上標示的地標時我下了車。天很黑，所以直到我貼近了路標看清楚時，才感到不寒而栗——這並不是朋友手繪地圖上的那些街道！我站在巴士道上了，各種汽車飛馳而過，街上看不到一個人。我不知道下一班巴士什麼時候到。所以，當下一班巴士終於到達時，我快步上了車。\\n\\n我告訴巴士司機我要去的地方，他說我搭錯車了，但是卻讓我留在車上。在完成了運行路線後，他提出要幫我找到目的地。我感激地拿出了那張手繪地圖，不過手繪地圖過於簡單，並冇有幫上多大忙。最後，他把我帶到了一條主路上去乘另一輛巴士，並表示很抱歉他幫不了我。\\n\\n我走了幾分鐘，注意到一輛巴士在我旁邊停了下來。還是那個司機！他說他不能讓我束手無策，他很想幫到我。於是他撥了一個電話，有人回撥了回來，說我應該搭乘的那輛巴士距離該處有10分鐘的路途。最後我如約赴宴，雖然還是晚了一個小時。\\n\\n我對這位巴士司機對我的關心永遠心存感激。他的善舉對我那晚的經曆頗具影響，不過更為重要的是，他在我的心中留下了烙印。\\n\\n\"

}