为你读书：A Story on an Island 《孤岛上的故事》

在一场船难后，一位幸存者漂流到了一座孤岛上。他每天都向上帝祈求能让过往的船只发现并解救自己，但愿望却屡屡落空，不仅如此，他在岛上的房子还意外着火了。失去住所的他万念俱灰，却万万没想到正是这场灾难让他得以获救。生活总是充满意外和惊喜，面对不幸和苦难时候，不妨抱以积极的态度，相信生活会给身处黑暗中的你留下一盏明灯。

 

 

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

在一场船难中，唯一的幸存者随着潮水，漂流到一座荒无人烟的小岛上。他焦躁不安地祈祷上帝能够救他。每天他都注视着海上是否有可搭救他的人，但似乎没有人前来。

 

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

感觉筋疲力尽，他最终决定用浮木造一个简陋的小木屋，以保护他在这险恶的环境中生存，并且保存他所剩无几的东西。

 

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

但有一天，在他搜寻完食物回到小屋时，却发现他的小屋陷入熊熊烈火之中，滚滚浓烟不断向天上窜。

The worst had happened: everything was lost.

最糟糕的是:他所有的一切通通化为乌有。

 

He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

他既悲痛又愤怒，茫然不知所措，怒喊道:“神啊！你怎么可以这样对我！”

 

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

第二天一早，他被一艘正向小岛驶近的船只的鸣笛声吵醒。那是来救他的。

 

How did you know I was here? he asked the weary man of his rescuers.

“你们怎么知道我在这里？”他问那些船员中一个充满倦意的人。

 

We saw your smoke signal, they replied.

“我们看到了你发出的烟雾信号。”他们回答说。

 

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

人处于困境时，很容易变得沮丧。但我们不应失去信心，因为上帝一直在我们的生活中做着工作，甚至在我们遭遇疼痛和苦难时也是这样。

 

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

记住：当下一次你的小木屋烧毁时，那可能只是召唤上帝美妙恩典的烟雾信号而已。在所有我们认为负面的事情，上帝都有正面的答案。

 

词汇点津：

 

feverishly ['fi:vəriʃli] adv. 狂热地；兴奋地

例句：

Negotiators from both nations have been working feverishly on a replacement treaty.  两国谈判代表一直在为达成一项替代条约而紧张工作。

 

driftwood ['drɪftwʊd] n. 浮木

例句：

A piece of driftwood snapped in front of him.  

一片浮木啪的一声落在他前面。

 

stun [stʌn] vt. 使震惊

例句：

He's stunned by today's resignation of his longtime ally.

他被自己的长期助手今天的辞职所震惊。

 

summon ['sʌmən] vt. 召唤；召集

例句：

Howe summoned a doctor and hurried over.

豪叫了一位医生，匆忙赶过去了。