Yoyo030303
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more but enjoy less. 我们这个时代在历史上的说法就是我们拥有更高的建筑，但是有更暴的脾气；我们拥有更宽阔的高速公路，却有更狭隘的观点；我们花费得更多，拥有得却更少；我们购买得更多却享受得更少。 We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. 我们的房子越来越大，家庭却越来越小；便利越来越多，时间却越来越少；学位越来越多，感觉却越来越少；知识越来越多，观点却越来越少；专家越来越多，问题也越来越多；药物越来越多，健康却越来越少。 We drink too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. 我们喝得太多，花钱大手大脚，笑得太少，开车太快，易怒，熬夜，赖床，书读得越来越少，电视看得越来越多，却很少向上帝祈祷。 We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life; we’ve added years to life, not life to years. 我们常常夸夸其谈，却很少付出爱心，且常常心中充满了仇恨。我们学会了如何谋生，而不知如何生活。我们延长了生命的期限，而不是生活的期限。 We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space; we’ve done larger things, but not better things. 我们登上了月球，并成功返回，却不能穿过街道去拜访新邻居。我们已经征服了太空，却征服不了自己的内心；我们的事业越做越大，但质量却没有提高。 We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less; we plan more, but accomplish less. 我们清洁了空气，却污染了灵魂；我们分离了原子，却无法驱除我们的偏见；我们写得更多，学到的却更少；我们的计划更多，完成的却更少。 We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but, lower morals. 我们学会了奔跑，却忘记了如何等待；我们的收入越来越高，道德水平却越来越低。 We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality. 我们制造了更多的计算机来存储更多的信息，制造了最多的副本，却减少了交流；我们开始渴望数量，但忽视了质量。 These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but more broken homes. 这个时代有双收入，但也有了更高的离婚率；有更华丽的房屋，却有更多破碎的家庭。 These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. Where are we heading...? 这个时代有了快速旅游，免洗尿布，却抛弃了道德、一夜情、超重的身体，以及可以从快乐中走向静止和自杀的药物。我们将走向何方……？ If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. 如果我们明天就死掉，我们为之工作的公司可能会在一天内很轻易地找人代替我们的位置。但是当我们离开家人后，他们的余生将会在失落中度过。 And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family an unwise investment indeed. 考虑一下吧，我们将自己的时间更多地投入到工作中，而放弃与家人在一起的时光，实在并非明智之举。 So what is the morale of the story?那么这则故事的主旨是什么呢?Don’t work too hard... and you know what’s the full word of family? 不要工作得太辛苦，你知道家的全称吗？ FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER, (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU. 家＝爸爸妈妈，我爱你们。
sizonghang
引导学生走近美文,使他们成为美文的崇拜者和得益者,听取 哇 声一片,这正是我们教者的责任,也是当代教育所期待的。我精心收集了300字英语美文摘抄，供大家欣赏学习!
It was a few days before Christmas many years ago and it looked like it would be a lean one for my family.
多年前，在圣诞节前的那几天，我意识到对于我们家来说，这将会是一个紧巴巴的圣诞节。
The saw mill that I was working at had laid a lot of us off while machinery was being repaired so we didn’t have much money.
我工作的木材加工厂当时正在维修机器，于是我们当中很多被临时停雇，因此我们当时没有什么钱。
My wife and I had scrimped and saved to buy our young children some toys, but an unexpected car repair had taken most of our cash. We decided then that we could only afford to get one small gift for each of our children.
我和妻子过得节俭，把余下来的钱准备给年幼的孩子们买礼物。但是突如其来的汽车修理花费了我们大部分现金，于是我们不得不承认剩下的钱只够给每个孩子买一个小礼物。
We arrived at the store and walked down the parking lot past people loading gifts into their cars. I envied them a bit, because it sure didn’t feel like Christmas to me.
我们到了商店，经过停车场的时候，看见人们在把礼物装进自己的车里。我有点嫉妒他们，因为我并不觉得自己是在过圣诞节。
We hurried into the store past the Salvation army bell ringer with our heads down. I had always enjoyed putting something in his kettle before but wasn’t sure if I could afford to this time.
我们急急忙忙走进商店，在经过救世军敲钟人的时候，我们低下了头。(以往)我都会在他的小壶里放上些东西，但是我不确定这次我还能不能付得起。
We searched all through the store hoping to find one thing each of our small children would like. Thankfully, we were able to get them each someone sweet. We headed for the checkout, bought the toys, and were amazed that we even had a few dollars left over.
我们把商店找了个底朝天，希望能够给我们每一个年幼的孩子都买一个小礼物。谢天谢地，我们的钱能给每个孩子都买点称心的礼物。我们走向收银台，把玩具结账，然后惊喜地发现，还多了几块钱。
As we walked out of the store into the brisk, Winter air I stopped and dropped those dollars into the bell ringer’s kettle. I didn’t have a dime left but that didn’t matter. Suddenly, it felt like Christmas.
我们走出商店，感受到了冬天清冽的风，在救世军敲钟人那里停了下来，将找零的几块钱放进了他的小壶中。(现在)我一分钱都没有了，但是我突然感觉到了圣诞节来了。
I think the wonderful actress, Dale Evans put it best when she said: “Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give it’s Christmas.” It doesn’t have to be a gift of money either. When we give our time, it’s Christmas. When we share our smile, it’s Christmas. When we give others our kindness and compassion, it’s Christmas. When we do anything at any time to help another, it’s Christmas.
在我看来，女演员Dale Evan把圣诞节的意义阐释得最好，“圣诞精神在于满怀着爱的行动，每当我们去关爱、去施予，就体现了圣诞精神。”它并不需要你花钱买礼物。每当我们愿意为别人花时间(做公益)，那就是圣诞节;每当我们用笑容(感染周围)，那就是圣诞节;每当我们对别人亲切友善、热情满满，那就是圣诞节。无论何时，无论以何种方式，每当我们帮助别人，那就是圣诞节。
May you do all you can to make it Christmas every day of the year and every day of your life here. May you always share God’s light through the love you give and the life you live.
愿你们在一生中每一年中的每一天，都带着圣诞精神。愿你们用自己的爱与人生来传扬上帝的光辉。
As we slowly drove down the street on that cold December evening we spotted the porch light. "This must be the house." I told our "Positive Teens In Action" group. We pulled up in front of an older home with the porch light glowing. We gathered up our song books, walked up the steps, and knocked on the door. We heard a faint voice from inside say, “Come on in. The door is open." We opened the door.
在那个寒冷的12月份的夜晚我们开车在路上慢慢行驶时看到了门廊的灯光，我跟我们这个“积极行动的青年小队”说：“一定就是这家了。”我们把车停在一栋旧房子前，门廊灯光很亮。我们拿出歌集，走上台阶敲了敲门，听到里面传来一个虚弱的声音：“进来吧，门开着呢”，我们推开了门。
There in a rocking chair sat an elderly woman with a big smile on her face. "I've been expecting you." she said weakly. Ruth was one of our Meals On Wheels stops I had arranged; along with the usual church members who enjoyed carolers. We handed Ruth the basket of goodies the teens had assembled earlier that evening. Then I asked Ruth what carols she would like to hear. Ruth's face was beaming as she joined in singing each song.
摇椅上坐着一位老太太，脸上带着灿烂的笑容，她虚弱地说：“我一直盼着你们来。”Ruth的家是我安排的上门送餐服务的一站，和我们一起来的还有喜欢唱圣歌的常去教堂的人。我们递给Ruth一篮子美味的食物，都是我们这些年轻人那天晚上提前装好的。然后我问Ruth她想听什么圣诞颂歌，她跟着唱每首歌时脸上都洋溢着笑容。
As we hugged Ruth good-bye she said to me with tears glistening in her eyes, “The day you called I was still in bed. I had just finished praying. I asked God if it would be possible to have some Christmas Carolers come to my home and sing this year. Thank you for being the answer to my Christmas prayer."
我们跟Ruth拥抱说再见时，她眼睛里闪着泪光对我说：“你打电话那天我还躺在床上，刚刚做完祷告，我问上帝今年能否让唱圣诞颂歌的人来我家唱颂歌。感谢你使我梦想成真。”
Wow, what an awesome experience to have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's Christmas prayer.
哇哦，能使别人的祷告得以实现是多棒的一次经历呀。
Bible Text: When you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. Matthew 6:6
《圣经》原文：祈祷时要去房间里，关上门向无形的上帝祈祷，上帝看见你在秘密祈祷，就会回报给你。
I have received many Christmas gifts over the years. The best gift I ever received was presented to me by a stranger. I never even knew his name and I only had contact with him for less than 60 seconds. His Christmas present to me changed the way I think about people and about Christmas.
这些年我收到过很多圣诞礼物，其中最好的礼物来自一个陌生人。我不曾知道他的名字，我俩之间沟通不到60秒。他送我的圣诞礼物改变了我对别人和圣诞节的看法。
I hate Black Friday sales. It's often a gathering of people who are there for many different reasons. Some are looking for a deal on that one item for their loved one, or perhaps themselves. Their intentions are completely unrelated to the festive time of year, and can merely be summed up with one word, "EBay!"
我讨厌黑色星期五的特卖，总有很多人因为很多不同的原因聚在一起。有些人是为所爱的人或者可能为自己买东西。他们的目的都跟一年一度的节日一点关系都没有，只能总结为一个词：“便宜”!
It was several years ago when my wife asked me to meet her at the local department store on Black Friday morning. They had advertised a child's bike that she wanted to purchase for our son. We stood with a very large crowd, waiting for the manager to blow the whistle. After a while the whistle blew. It was like throwing a bucket of chum into a tank of sharks. I told my wife that if we obtained a bike, fine, but if we did not, I was OK with that too.
几年前妻子让我在“黑五”早上和她在当地百货公司门口会和，他们正在特价销售一款儿童自行车，她想买给我们的儿子。还有一大群人站在那儿等着经理吹哨。过了一会，哨声响起，当时的场景就像一桶三文鱼被扔进了鲨鱼水箱里。我跟妻子说如果我们抢到自行车还好，如果没抢到我也无所谓。
As the pallet of bikes began to gradually decrease in size, I saw my polite opportunity to wrap my hands around the corner of one of the boxes. I lifted it off the crate and suddenly felt some mild resistance. I looked up to see one of the largest gentlemen I had ever seen in my life. Intimidating was not the word to describe his presence. He was adorned with numerous straps of metal spiked leather around both arms and even his neck. Tattoos were an obvious passion of his.
货架上的自行车越来越少，我看到了一个“文雅”的机会，把手伸到了一个自行车包装盒的角上，把盒子拎了起来，突然感觉到有人轻轻地阻止我。我抬头看见了平生所见的最高大的人，“吓人”这个词已经不足以形容他了。他胳膊上甚至脖子上满是带有铆钉的皮带子，很明显纹身是他的最爱。
I started to relinquish the box but he gently pushed it back in my direction and back into my hands. He then directed it into my shopping cart. He looked at me, smiled, and said, "Merry Christmas."My wife and I went to the checkout, paid for the bike and went home. All the way home I was thinking that this moment was by far the best Christmas gift I had ever received. The kindness of a stranger that broke all preconceived notions I may have had of stereotypes and prejudices. The tenderness of a human heart in a simple act. I will never forget it.
我想把盒子放回去，但他从他的方向轻轻把自行车推了回来，又推回到我手里，然后直接放进了我的购物车里，他看着我微笑着说：“圣诞节快乐”。妻子和我去了收款处，付完钱就回家了。回家的一路上我都在想那一刻是至今我收到的最好的圣诞礼物。一个陌生人的善良打破了我所有对于成见和偏见原有的看法，人内心的柔软就体现在小小的行为上，我永远不会忘记这次经历。
魔女在彼岸
Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide. Plants of semi-arid areas are adapted to being eaten by sparsely scattered, large, grazing mammals which move in response to the patchy rainfall common to these regions. Early human pastoralists living in semi-arid areas copied this natural system. They moved their small groups of domestic animals in response to food and water availability. Such regular stock movement prevented overgrazing of the fragile plant cover. In modern times, the use of fences has prevented domestic and wild animals from moving in response to food availability, and overgrazing has often resulted. However, when used correctly, fencing is a valuable tool of good veld management.
嘟嘟和滴滴
thoughthereismuchtobeconcernedabout,thereisfar,farmoreforwhichtobethankful.thoughlife'sgoodnesscanattimesbeovershadowed,itisneveroutweighed.尽管有很多事让人忧虑，但相比而言，值得感激的事要多得多。尽管生命的美好有时被蒙上阴影，但它却永远不会被埋没。foreverysingleactthatissenselesslydestructive,therearethousandsmoresmall,quietactsoflove,kindnessandcompassion.foreverypersonwhoseekstohurt,therearemany,manymorewhodevotetheirlivestohelpingandtohealing.相对于每一个无谓的破坏行为而言，都有更多数以千计更为微小的，包含着爱，友善和同情的举动静静地上演着。相对于每一个试图伤害他人的人而言，都有更多的人致力于帮助他人，治愈他人的创伤。thereisgoodnesstolifethatcannotbedenied.inthemostmagnificentvistasandinthesmallestdetails,lookclosely,forthatgoodnessalwayscomesshiningthrough.生命的美好不能否认。在最为壮观的前景和最为琐碎的细节中，请仔细观察，因为美好的事物总是散发着耀眼的光芒闪亮登场。thereisnolimittothegoodnessoflife.itgrowsmoreabundantwitheachnewencounter.themoreyouexperienceandappreciatethegoodnessoflife,themorethereistobelived.生命的美好没有界限。每一次相遇都会使这美好变得越发丰富。你经历得越多，越能欣赏生命的美好，生命中的美好就会变得越多。evenwhenthecoldwindsblowandtheworldseemstobecoveredinfoggyshadows,thegoodnessoflifeliveson.openyoureyes,openyourheart,andyouwillseethatgoodnessiseverywhere.即使当寒风袭来，整个世界似乎被雾气掩盖之时，生命的美好仍会存在。睁开双眼，打开心扉，你就会发现这美好无处不在。thoughthegoodnessoflifeseemsattimestosuffersetbacks,italwaysendures.forinthedarkestmomentitbecomesvividlyclearthatlifeisapricelesstreasure.andsothegoodnessoflifeismadeevenstrongerbytheverythingsthatwouldopposeit.尽管生命的美好有时似乎遭受挫折，但它总会挺过来。因为，在最黑暗的时刻，有一点变得格外清楚，那就是，生命是无价的财富。因此，下正是与生命的美好相对立的事物使其越发强大。timeandtimeagainwhenyoufeareditwasgoneforeveryoufoundthatthegoodnessoflifewasreallyonlyamomentaway.aroundthenextcorner,insideeverymoment,thegoodnessoflifeistheretosurpriseanddelightyou.无数次地，当你担心这美好已经远离之时，你会发现生命的美好其实只与你相隔须臾。它就在下一角落，存在于每个时刻之间，等着给你惊喜。takeamomenttoletthegoodnessoflifetouchyourspiritandcalmyourthoughts.then,shareyourgoodfortunewithanother.forthegoodnessoflifegrowsmoreandmoremagnificenteachtimeitisgivenaway.花些时间让生命的美好感动自己的灵魂，放松自己的思绪。然后，把你的幸运与他人分享。因为生命的美好会在每次给予之间变得越来越壮观。thoughtheproblemsconstantlyscreamforattentionandtheconflictsappeartorageeverstronger,thegoodnessoflifegrowsstrongerstill,quietly,peacefully,withmorepurposeandmeaningthaneverbefore.但生命的美好却总是静静地，平和地，带着比以往更强的意志和更多的价值变得更加强大。
