第2章 《点亮生命的航灯》：The Light Lit up in My Life

Some of my sisters work in Australia.On a reservation,among the Aborigines,there was an elderly man.I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man's.He was completely ignored by everyone.His home was disordered anddirty.

I told him,"Please let me clean your house,wash your clothes and make your bed."

He answered,"I'm okay like this.Let it be."

I said again,"You will be still better if you allow me to do it."

He finally agreed.So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes.I discovered a beautiful lamp,covered with dust.Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it.

I asked him,"Don't you light your lamp?Don't you ever use it?"

He answered,"No.Nobody comes to see me.I have no need to light it.Who would I light it for?"

I asked,"Would you light it every night if my sisters came?"

He replied,"Of course."

From that day on my sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening.We cleaned the lamp and my sisters would light it every evening.

Two years passed.I had completely forgotten that man.He sent this message,"Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."

I thought it was a very small thing.We often neglect the small things.

在我生命中点亮的那盏灯

我的几个姊妹在澳洲工作。在一片保留地的土著居民中有一位上了年纪的人。我可以向你保证，你从未见过有比这个可怜老人处境更艰难的人，大家都对他熟视无睹，他的家又脏又乱。

我告诉他：“请让我帮你打扫房子、洗洗衣服、铺铺床吧。”

他应道：“我这样很好，随它去吧。”

我又说道：“如果你允许我这么做，你会觉得更好。”

他最终表示同意。于是，我才能帮他收拾房子、洗衣服。我发现一盏漂亮的灯，上面积满了灰尘。只有上帝晓得他最后一次点亮是多少年前的事儿。

我问他：“你不点这盏灯吗？你从没用过它吗？”

他回答说：“没有。谁都不来看我，我没必要点亮它，我为谁点亮呢？”

我问：“如果我的姊妹们来，你愿意每天夜里点亮它吗？”

他答道：“当然愿意。”

从那天起，我的姊妹们每天晚上都来看望他。我们把灯擦净，姊妹们每天晚上都把它点亮。

两年过去了，我已经完全忘记了那个人。他捎口信说：“告诉我的朋友，她在我生命中点亮的那盏灯仍在继续闪耀。”

我原以为这是一件区区小事，我们常常会忽视那些小事。