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第16章 蚂蚁和隐形眼镜

布伦达是位年轻女子,她被邀请去攀岩。虽说她很害怕,但还是随着团队来到了一个巨大的花岗岩岩壁前,尽管她很畏惧,她还是戴上了攀岩用具,握住绳索,开始攀岩。还好,她爬到了一块突出的岩石上,她可以在那儿歇口气。当她还停留在那块儿岩石上的时候,安全绳索突然“啪”地一声打到了她的眼睛上,她的隐形眼镜被打了出来。

可是,她是在这样的地方,在一块儿突出的岩石上,离地面有几百英尺,离岩壁顶端也有几百英尺。

当然,她不停地寻找,希望隐形眼镜落到了那块儿突出的岩石上了,但是它没在那儿。

她是在这样的地方,离家很远,现在她两眼模糊。她感到绝望,开始难过起来,所以,他恳求上帝帮她找到隐形眼镜。

当她到达岩壁顶端的时候,一个朋友帮她在她的眼睛里和衣服上寻找隐形眼镜,但没有找到。她心情沮丧地和同伴一起坐了下来,等待其他人爬到岩顶。

她望着一座座山峰,心里想着这样的诗句:“上帝的目光巡视着整个世界。”他想:“上帝,你能看到所有的山岭,你了解每块石头和每片树叶,你知道我的隐形眼镜在哪里,请帮帮我吧。”

后来,他们沿着山路下到了山脚下。在山脚下,一个新登山队伍正准备攀岩。他们中的一位大声喊道:“嗨!你们!有人丢了隐形眼镜吗?”

那已经足以令人感到吃惊的了,可是,你知道这个攀岩者看到了什么了吗?一只蚂蚁背着隐形眼镜在岩石上缓慢地爬行。

布伦达的父亲是个漫画家,她把这个令人难以置信的关于蚂蚁,祈祷和隐形眼镜的故事告诉了他,他画了一幅画,画的是蚂蚁拉着隐形眼镜,上面还写着:“上帝,我不知道你为什么让我背着这东西,我不能吃它,它又实在是太重了。但是,如果你让我背,我就为你背吧。”

The Difference A Teacher Can Make

Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.

Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study.

In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on. His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.

One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.

“Steve!!” Startled, he turned to look at her.

“Pay attention!”

Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.

“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.

“...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”

She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.

After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn‘t do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn.

“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.

“You’re smart enough! You‘ll see a change!” Nothing fazed him.

“Give yourself a chance! Don’t give up on your life!” Nothing.

“Steve! Please! I care about you!”

Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, “CARED ABOUT HIM??!!”

Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around. Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench was overpowering! He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods.

The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.

Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn‘t resist another look at the lovely woman.

Miss White’s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!

From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life.

After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor in a nearby college.

Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives.

You see, it’s simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.