学文网It was a cold winter’s day. The parking lot near the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that many people were talking in a low voice as they walked to the church.
As I got closer, I saw a man lying down as if he was asleep. He was wearing a long coat that was almost in pieces and a hat on his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet and with holes all over them.
I guessed that this man was homeless, and asleep. I joined the crowd. We talked and laughed, but no one invited the poor man to join us, including me. A few moments later the door to the church opened. We all came in and waited for the preacher.
In came the homeless man, walking with his head down. People talked in a low voice and made faces. He made his way up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat.
My heart sank.
There stood our preacher ― He was the “homeless man”. No one said a word.
The preacher said, “I don’t think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today.”Then he started singing these words:“If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody that he’s traveling wrong, then my living shall not be in vain.”
那是一个寒冷的冬日，靠近教堂的停车场上很快停满了车子。当我下车时，看到很多人一边走向教堂，一边在低声地谈论着什么。
当我靠近时，我看见一个人躺在地上，好像正在睡觉。他穿着一件破旧的长外套，戴着一顶帽子。因为帽子拉得很下，所以你看不清他的脸。他穿的鞋看起来有30年了，又小又有很多破洞。
我想这一定是个无家可归的人，他正在睡觉。我加入到人群里。我们边谈边笑着，但是没有人请这个可怜的人加入到我们中来，当然也包括我自己。过了一会儿，教堂的门开了，我们都进去了并等待着牧师的到来。
这个无家可归的人低着头进来了，人们低声地交谈并且做着鬼脸。只见他径直走上教堂的讲坛，然后脱下帽子和外套。
我的心沉下来。
我们的牧师就站在那里――他就是那个“无家可归”的人。没有一个人说一句话。
牧师说：“我想我不需要告诉你们今天我要说些什么。”接下来他开始诵读起来：“当我走过的时候，如果我能帮助某人，如果我能说一句话或唱一首歌让他振奋起来，如果我能告诉某人他正走错了方向，那么我的生命将不会虚度。”