雙語閱讀美文：木匠的故事

　　摘錄：生活就是一項DIY的工程”。你今天的態度與選擇決定了你明天會住在什么樣的“房子”里。

　　An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurel life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week ,but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

　　The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes,but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

　　有個老木匠準備退休，他告訴老板，說要離開建造行業，回家與妻子兒女享受天倫之樂。雖然老板給他的工資很高，可是，他更想享受退休生活。生活總能維持下去。

　　老板很不舍得他的好工人離開，問他是否能幫忙再建一座房子。老木匠答應了。但是大家后來都看得出來，他的心已不在工作上，他使用的是次料，做工也很粗糙。這真是一種令人遺憾的結束自己全心全意所從事的事業的方式。

　　When the carpenter finished his work ,his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said,"This is your house. . . my gift to you. "

　　The carpenter was shocked!

　　房子建好的時候，老板前來視察，然后把大門的鑰匙遞給他，說道：“這是你的房子……是我送給你的禮物。”

　　老木匠驚呆了!

雙語閱讀美文：木匠的故事

　　What a shame!If he had only known he was building his own house,he would have done it all so differently.

　　真是丟臉啊!如果他早知道是在給自己建房子，他一定不會這么應付了事的。

　　So it is with us . We build our lives, a day at a time,often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock;we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over,we would do it much differently.

　　我們又何嘗不是這樣。我們漫不經心地“建造”自己的生活，不是積極行動，而是消極應付，凡事不肯精益求精，在關鍵時刻不能盡最大努力。等我們驚覺自己的處境，早已深困在自己建造的“房子”里了。如果能夠重新來過，我們一定不會這么做。

　　But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter,and everyday you hammer a nail,place a board ,or erect a wall,Someone once said,"Life is a do-it-yourself project. "Your attitude and the choices you made today,help build the "house"you will live in tomorrow. Therefore,build wisely!

　　但是，你永遠也無法回到過去。你就是那個木匠，在建造“生活”這所房子，每天敲進去一顆釘，加上去一塊板，或者砌起一面墻。有人曾經說過：“生活就是一項DIY的工程”。你今天的態度與選擇決定了你明天會住在什么樣的“房子”里。因此，用你的智慧去建造你的"房子"吧!