人生不設(shè)限·沒(méi)褲子可穿的教訓(xùn)

小時(shí)候，我接受的教導(dǎo)是一切榮耀都?xì)w于上帝。成年之后，我了解到不論我做了些什么，都不是由我完成，而是通過(guò)我做成的。上帝似乎認(rèn)為我偶爾需要上上“謙遜”的課，這樣我才不會(huì)失去與人互動(dòng)、聯(lián)結(jié)的能力。這些人生功課有時(shí)很困難，有時(shí)也挺好笑的。

As a child I was taught that all honor goes to God, and as a man I've come to realize that whatever good I accomplish is done not by me but through me. It seems God believes I need a lesson in humility now and then so that I never lose my ability to engage and bond with others. Sometimes those lessons are hard. Sometimes they are hilarious.

2002年我還住在澳大利亞，我表弟納森陪我去美國(guó)一個(gè)教會(huì)營(yíng)會(huì)演講。我們?cè)诨顒?dòng)的前一晚抵達(dá)，而因?yàn)殚L(zhǎng)途飛行的時(shí)差，我們睡過(guò)頭了。

I was still living in Australia in 2002 when my cousin Nathan Poljak accompanied me to the United States to speak at a church camp. We arrived the night before the engagement and were seriously jet-lagged by the long flight. We overslept.

按照預(yù)訂計(jì)劃，我應(yīng)該要早起去教一堂《圣經(jīng)》課，但沒(méi)有人忍心叫醒我。結(jié)果我從昏沉狀態(tài)中醒過(guò)來(lái)時(shí)，距離那堂課開始的時(shí)間只剩下15分鐘。因?yàn)樽〉貌贿h(yuǎn)，所以我想應(yīng)該還來(lái)得及，但是當(dāng)我們沖到營(yíng)會(huì)時(shí)，我突然想上廁所。相信我，這種事通常我自己處理得來(lái)，個(gè)中訣竅我不便透露，不過(guò)把拉鏈換成魔鬼氈幫助很大就是了。那天因?yàn)楹芗?，納森就說(shuō)要幫我。他把我抱進(jìn)公共廁所，然后讓我辦事。

I was scheduled to rise early to teach a Bible class, but no one had the heart to wake me. I rose from my coma just about fifteen minutes before the class was to start. We were staying nearby, so I thought we could still make it. We rushed to the camp, but when we arrived, I realized I had to use the restroom. Now, believe it or not, that's something I can usually do on my own. I will never give away my secret techniques, but replacing zippers with Velcro proved to be a big help. Nathan offered to assist me because we were in such a hurry. He carried me into a public restroom stall and set me up to do my business.

解決之后，納森就進(jìn)來(lái)幫我處理后續(xù)工作。正當(dāng)我們要完成整個(gè)程序時(shí)，納森把我的短褲掉到馬桶里了。當(dāng)我的尊嚴(yán)在慢動(dòng)作的旋渦里消失無(wú)蹤時(shí)，我們嚇得張大嘴，當(dāng)場(chǎng)呆掉。我站在那里，沒(méi)有褲子可穿，而且《圣經(jīng)》課遲到了。我毛骨悚然地瞪著表弟，他則回敬我驚慌失措。接著，我們?nèi)滩蛔”ζ饋?lái)，甚至沒(méi)辦法把褲子拉出來(lái)，因?yàn)槲覀儗?shí)在笑得太瘋狂了，愈笑就愈覺(jué)得好笑，一發(fā)不可收拾。納森的笑聲超級(jí)有感染力，當(dāng)他一開始笑，我就忍不住了。我相信當(dāng)天在廁所外面的人一定很納悶，三號(hào)廁所到底發(fā)生了什么好笑的事，不然里頭的人怎么那么開心?

Once I'd finished, Nathan came in to help me close up shop, and as we were completing the process, he dropped my shorts into the toilet bowl! We froze in horror with our mouths gaping as my dignity disappeared in a slow-motion whirlpool. There I stood, pant-less and overdue for my Bible school lecture. I stared in horror at my cousin. He mirrored my shock. And then we both set to laughing like two loons of the loo. We couldn't even fish my pants out because we were yucking it up so wildly, and our ineptitude made us even sillier with glee. Nathan has the most infectious laugh, and when he starts in, I can't help myself. I'm sure people standing outside the restroom wondered what was so hilarious in stall number three.

當(dāng)我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己處在一個(gè)荒謬的情境時(shí)，我的表兄弟、堂兄弟，以及弟弟、妹妹幫助我學(xué)會(huì)一笑置之，這就是一個(gè)很典型的例子。他們也教我要依靠那些愿意幫忙的人，一旦覺(jué)得受不了了，就去尋求協(xié)助。我鼓勵(lì)你也這么做。

My cousins and brother and sister helped me learn to laugh when I find myself in ridiculous situations, and this was certainly one of them. They've also taught me to lean on those willing to help and to ask for assistance when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I encourage you to do the same.