Anonymous
生命的奖牌
心灵寄语
身体的缺陷没有削弱他灵魂的坚强。他没有怨天尤人，没有轻言放弃。他的努力，他的奋斗终将获取生命的最高奖牌，让我们为他加油喝彩吧！
After giving a talk at a high school，I was asked to pay a visit to a special student。An illness has kept the boy home，but he had expressed an interest in meeting me，and it would mean a great deal to him。I agreed。
During the nine-mile drive to his home，I found out something about Matthew。He had muscular dystrophy1.When he was born，the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five，then they were told he would not make it to ten。Now he was thirteen。He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter2，and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams。
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew。Never once did he complain or ask，“Why me？”He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams。Obviously，he knew what he was talking about。He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different。He just talked about his hopes for the future，and how one day he wanted to lift weight with me。
When we finished talking，I went to my briefcase3and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck。I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would。He looked at it for a moment，then took it off and handed it back to me。He said，“You are a champion。You earned that medal。Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal，I’ll show it to you。”
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents telling me that Matthew had passed away。They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before：
Dear Rick，
My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me。I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live anymore。But I still smile as much as I can。
I told you someday I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal。But I know now I will never get to do that。But I know I’m a champion，and God knows that too。When I get to Heaven，God will give me my medal and when you get there，I will show it to you。Thank you for loving me。
Your friend，
Matthew
佚名
在一所中学演讲结束后，我受邀去看望一位特殊的学生。他病魔缠身，足不出户。但是，他强烈地想跟我见面，说对他有很大的意义，于是我同意了。
在去他家的9英里的路程中，我了解到马修的情况。他患有肌肉萎缩症。他一出生，医生就告诉他的父母，他活不过5岁，后来又说马修活不到10岁。但是现在，他已经13岁了。他想见我，因为我是一名举重冠军，得过金牌。而且，我明白如何克服困难，追逐梦想。
在我和马修交谈的一个多小时中，他一次也没有向我抱怨，“为什么上帝偏偏让我得这种病？”他跟我谈论胜利、成功以及追求梦想。很显然，他知道自己在说什么。对班上同学的嘲弄，他只字未提。他谈论的只有对未来的憧憬，以及他多么希望有一天和我一起举重。
我们谈话结束时，我从公文包里拿出我获得的第一枚金牌，戴在他的脖子上。我告诉他，他更称得上是冠军，因为他比我更懂得如何克服困难和获取成功。他盯着金牌看了一会儿，接着摘下来还给我。他说：“你是一名冠军，这枚金牌是你的奖励。总有一天，当我参加奥运会，获得属于自己的奖牌时，我会给你看的。”
去年夏天，我收到了来自马修父母的一封信。信里说马修已经离开了人世。他们想交给我一封信，那是马修在去世前几天写给我的。
亲爱的里克：
我的母亲说，收到您寄给我的照片，我应该给您写一封感谢信。我也想让您知道，医生说我所剩时间不多了。但是，我仍然尽量微笑地生活。
那天，我曾告诉过您，以后我会参加奥运会，赢得一枚金牌。但是，现在我知道我将永远不能实现这个梦想了。但是，我认为自己已经是一名冠军了，上帝也知道。当我到天堂以后，上帝将会给我颁发奖牌。当您也升入天堂时，我会把奖牌拿给您看的。谢谢您的爱。
你的朋友，
马修
V
词汇空间
ocabulary
1.muscular dystrophy 肌肉萎缩症
2.lifter n。 举重运动员
3.briefcase n。 公文包
文化链接
Culture Background
举重的起源
举重是一项很古老的运动。古希腊人曾用举石头来锻炼和测验人的体力，罗马人在棍的两头扎以石块来锻炼体力和训练士兵。中国民族形式的举重活动，早在两千多年前的楚汉时代就有记录（举大刀、石担、石锁等）。从晋代至清代，举重均列为武考项目。公元前4000年的古埃及的绘画记述了法老们举沙袋或其它重物来锻炼身体，这就是用举重来进行锻炼的最早的记录。运动员们用这种方法来增强身体力量，增加身上的肌肉。
妙语拾珠
1.I told you someday I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal。But I know now I will never get to do that。But I know I’m a champion，and God knows that too。
那天，我曾告诉过您，以后我会参加奥运会，赢得一枚金牌。但是，现在我知道我将永远不能实现这个梦想了。但是，我认为自己已经是一名冠军了，上帝也知道。
2.When I get to Heaven，God will give me my medal and when you get there，I will show it to you。
当我到天堂以后，上帝将会给我颁发奖牌。当您也升入天堂时，我会把奖牌拿给您看的。
