英文原文

心灵没有欲望感而只有启悟感。更多的时候，心灵是以一种无需条件的方式自然来临，无论是人类在物质上的穷困或是富有，心灵本质上都与它们无关。在人类生命的世界里，心灵总是旁若无人地来到，让人类心中充满喜悦和希望的启悟。

　　那些获得心灵力量的人，将表现出远阔的目光和心胸，所有的事物能够装入他的内心被理解和感悟，他将拥有巨大的知解力，成为远见未来的先知。

Only a handful of people know this about me, but five years ago my father died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. This is a fatal disease that literally eats away at a person's muscles until they cannot walk, talk or even breathe. It was a life-changing experience, but I can't really say that I developed any defining beliefs from it. Rather the whole thing just really confused me on what to believe. But this essay is not about my experience of my father's passing. It's about my stepmother.

I believe in inner strength. It was my stepmother, Janey Hovenden, who really had the hardest time when my father was suffering from ALS. For three years she juggled work, my dad and me, with virtually no breaks. But she never gave up. Every day, right after she got home from work, she would cook dinner for us. She'd have to feed my father because ALS made it. So, he was incapable of feeding himself. During the nights, my stepmother would stay up with my dad to make sure he wouldn't suffocate while he slept. She'd stay up and comfort him, even though she had to work early the next morning. Janey even fought past her fear of needles, in order to treat my dad at home because the last thing he wanted was to lie in a hospital bed during his final days.

My dad was a proud man and didn't want people to see him when he was wasting away. But Janey went against his wishes and invited old friends over to say their final goodbyes. Although he didn't want to admit it, my dad cherished every visit. I really hadn't appreciated what my stepmother had done before, but looking back, I realize how much she did for my dad. She kept him alive as long as she could, almost single-handedly.

Today, Janey is doing well and still taking care of me just as well as she took care of me and my dad when he was sick. Before my dad passed on, he told Janey that she would have to be my father figure. And though she isn't my dad, she is the next best thing. She jokes around with me about it. Even though I live mostly with my mom, I still look to see Janey once a week and she has helped me immensely in getting through this. And I think I help her, too. She says I remind her of Dad, and spending time with me, and cooking dinner for me helps her remember.

I believe that inner strength emerges when times are desperate. I believe people sometimes refuse to give up, and they help others no matter the personal cost. My stepmother proved that to me.

重点词汇

1. a handful of 一把；少量的；一小部分

Only a handful of military commanders and tacticians have ever achieved this rigorous certification.
只有少数的军事指挥官和谋士曾经达到这一严格的认证。

They've had at least a handful of serious inquiries - one from as far away as London - and expect more to pour in as word gets out.
他们至少已经有几个严肃的问题想要咨询—一个是来自遥远的伦敦。当消息传出来以后他们就有更多的期待了。

2. stepmother n. 继母，后母

By and by she began to love his stepmother.
不久之后她开始喜欢她的继母了。

3. juggle vi. 玩杂耍；欺骗；歪曲

The juggler juggled a handkerchief into a bird.
变戏法的人把一块手帕变成了一只鸟。

Thus somehow the bitterness of a parting was juggled away.
这样，离愁别恨总算变戏法似的变掉了。

4.single-handedly adv. 独力地

Then Bryant did what Bryant does: almost single-handedly pulled his team out of the hole.
而后，科比做了他该做的事儿：几乎独自一人带领球队摆脱困境。

5.pass on 传递；继续；去世