Once upon a time there were two brothers who lived near each other. One day, they had a 1because of some small things. And neither was willing to2 each other. One morning, there was a knock at door of the elder brother. He3it and found a man standing beside the door. “I’m a carpenter(木匠). I’m4 a few days’ work. Perhaps you would have a few small jobs I could help with.” “Yes,” said the elder brother. “I do have a job for you.5at that farm across the small river. It is my younger brother’s. We had a quarrel, so I won’t like to see his 6any more. I want you to build me a 8-foot 7. ” The man said, “I think I understand the situation. Don’t worry. I’11 be able to do a job that makes you8” So the elder brother was very glad and left for the town nearby. In the evening, the carpenter had just 9 his job when the elder brother returned. But he was10 to find, instead of a fence, before him, stood a11, which went from one side of the river12 the other! On the other13of bridge, was his younger brother. “Do you know the name of the bridge?” The carpenter asked. “No,” the elder brother was14 “OK, I can tell you. Its name is understanding and15,” the carpenter smiled. Suddenly they began to understand16. Surely, between two brothers there should be a bridge rather than a17. Standing on the bridge, they18each other’s hands with19in their eyes. “Could you stay another few days? I’ve a lot of other work for you,” said the elder brother. “I’d love to20 on,” the carpenter said. “But I have many more bridges to build.”
Several times on my way to work, I passed a gentleman who I supposed homeless. He had a lot of his possessions1down to his bike and held a cardboard sign that said he was a2 who doesn’t drink or do drugs, but would3anything that could be given. He usually has4on and is listening to the radio. He is always5his own business, often reading6. I’ve never seen him 7“begging”. Several times, while I was8him, I realized I had some food with me, so I turned9and offered him that food. He took off his headphones, and said, “Umm, blueberry muffins are my 10!” with a big smile and a gleam in his11. He thanked me so12. The graciousness(有礼貌) and humbleness(谦逊) of his 13makes me want to continue to stop by with “14 ” of food, money or other gifts. In the past, I’ve met 15folks who 16the food I was offering, saying that they wanted only money instead. So this wonderful gentleman being so open to receiving has been a17. It also makes me think how18I am to receiving in my life --- am I humble and grateful when I am19with something? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but20as gracious, humble and sincere as this wonderful man has been in receiving.
So he dragged himself out of bed and went downstairs. He opened the door and there was a man6at the door. It didn’t take long to7the man was drunk. “Hi, there,”slurred(嘟囔) the stranger, “Can you give me a push?” “No, get lost. It’s half past one. I was8,”Peter said and slammed the door. He went back9to bed and told his wife what had happened. She said, “That wasn’t very10of you. Remember that night we had a11in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up and you had to12that man’s door to get our car13again? What would have happened if he’ d told14to get lost?” “But the guy was15,” said Peter. “It doesn’t matter,”said the wife. “He needs help16it would be the Christian thing to help him.” So Peter went out of bed again, got dressed, and went downstairs. He opened the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere, he shouted, “Hey, do you still want a17?” And he heard a18,“Yeah, please.” So, still being unable to see the stranger, he shouted, “19are you?” The drunk replied, “Over here, on the20.”
Growing trees in the concrete jungle of Los Angels brings neighbors benefits beyond beauty. As the1of TreePeople, a nonprofit organization he founded in 1973, Andy, now 54, has inspired hundreds of thousands of volunteers to2plant more than two million trees throughout Southern California. Tree People3tools, blueprints, planting demonstrations, and tree-care supervisors free to all the participants,4me. “You will need their support,” Andy said, referring to my neighbors. “5 the community behind you, the trees you plant will die in five years.” So I started knocking on doors, hoping to share6I’d learnt in Tree People’s seminar(培训班) about the critical role of trees in removing smog from the7, cooling our homes and preventing water runoff. Strange8it may seem, some people are afraid of trees. “The roots destroy sidewalks,” one neighbor said, “9will ruin my pipes. And I don’t want leaves.”10told me. When I called Andy about the11I was getting from my neighbors, he encouraged me to keep trying. So my son and my wife delivered cookies while I went door to door. It12us half a year to sign permission forms from 16 neighbors for 21 trees. When the big day arrived, I was excited and13. What if I threw a planting tree and14else came? But as I set out shovels(铁铲), my son and wife made cakes and doughnuts,15started to gather. Friends brought friends. Neighbors came with cousins and grandchildren. A local middle school even16with half the seventh grade. More than 300 people joined us. Then Andy led us in a17: welcoming each tree into the world and18it name. After the ceremony, as I shook hands with volunteers and my neighbors, I19help but feel we’d accomplished20great. After all, trees need people, and people need trees.
It was a normal summer night, humidity(潮湿)hung in the thick air. The only sound was my sister’s heavy1 from the bed next to me. I couldn’t go to2, partly because of my cold and partly because of my3 for the next day. My mum had said that tomorrow was going to be a 4 . Sweat stuck to my aching body. Finally, I gathered enough5 to sit up. I looked out of my small window into the night. There was a big bright6 hanging in the sky, giving off a magic glow. My sister turned over as though she was as light as air. Why could she sleep soundly? Why wasn’t she7 too? Did she know about tomorrow? I couldn’t stand the8 anymore, so I did what I always do to make myself feel better. I went to the9 and picked up my toothbrush and toothpaste. Pouring the red paste onto the brush, I cleaned back and forth, up and down. Then I walked downstairs to look for some10of movement, some life. Gladiator, my cat,11 me as he meowed(猫叫)his sad song. He was on the old orange couch (长沙发), sitting up on his front legs, 12something to happen. He looked at me as if to say, “I’m13, pet me. I need a good hug.” Even the couch begged me to sit on it. In one movement I settled down onto the soft14. This couch represented my birth, my parents’ marriage, and hundreds of other little15. As I held Gladiator, my heart started beating heavily. My mind was16 with questions: What’s life? Am I really alive? Are you listening to me? Every time I moved my hand down Gladiator’s body, I had a17 thought; each touch sang a different song. I forgot all about the18 and the next day’s surprise. The 19 was so full of warmth and silence that I sank into its arms. Falling asleep with the big cat in my arms, I felt all my worries20 move away.
