《剪下一方暖和--喻道小故事》

朋友或仇敵？ Friend or Foe?

Peter Miller, a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and enjoyed the friendship of George Washington.

In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, an evil-minded man who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor.

One day Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Pastor Miller traveled 70 miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor .

“No,” General Washington said, “I cannot grant you the life of your friend.”

“My friend!” exclaimed the pastor. “He is my harshest critic and enemy.”

When Washington learned the truth, he granted the pastor’s request. Peter Miller took Michael Wittman home ----no longer an enemy, but a friend.

..

字彙
humiliate 羞辱
treason 叛國罪
traitor 賣國賊，背叛者
critic 批評者

在美國革命期間，一位浸信會牧師彼得米勒住在賓西法尼亞州的以法他，他和喬治華盛頓是好朋友。

以法他也住著一個壞心腸的人麥可惠曼，他極盡所能地反對並羞辱牧師。

有一天惠曼因叛國罪被捕，判處死刑。米勒牧師步行了七十英里到費城，為這賣國賊請命。

「不，」華盛頓將軍說，「我無法應允救你朋友的性命。
」 「朋友！」牧師驚叫，「他對我批評得最厲害，是我最凶的仇敵。」

華盛頓知道真相後，他允准了牧師的請求。彼得米勒把麥可惠曼帶回家----不再是仇敵，而是朋友。

思考與應用
1. 華盛頓為什麼改變主意？
2. 仇敵被處死不是大快人心嗎，牧師為什麼要替他求情？我能做什麼使仇敵變朋友？

about 【剪下一方暖和】專欄譯者：顧美芬