英语小达人 64 Re-Finding Faith

 　　Re-Finding Faith

　　 重新找回信仰

　　I grew up in a very religious family. By the time I was in my teens, I had had enough of God and spent the early years of my adult life ignoring him.

　　我成长在一个宗教信仰虔诚的家庭，当我十几岁时，我受够了上帝，而在成年之后又一段时间忽视了他的存在。

　　By the age of thirty-four, I had three children, was going through a divorce, and my business was going under. I had no money, no credit, and our small apartment was far too cramped¹ for a family of four. For the first time in years, I prayed to God.

　　到我三十四岁时，我有三个小孩，历经离婚和事业的低潮，我没有钱、没有信用，而房子小到不够四个人住。我向上帝祈祷，那是我多年来第一次这么做。

　　The following day I began my search for a new home. I called a number listed in the classifieds and went to see the house. Instantly, I knew it was meant for us. Four bedrooms and right on the lake, perfect! The man made an offer to let me lease to own. I was thrilled but still knew I didn't have the money.

　　隔天我开始找新家，我打了分类广告上的一个电话号码，前往看屋，我立刻觉得那简直是为我们而设计的房子，四间卧室，靠近湖边，太完美了！屋主提议让我租下，我很兴奋，但是也知道我没有钱。

　　I went home and prayed again. The following week, a lady from my woman's group offered to invest twenty thousand dollors into my business! I knew it was God helping² me. I went to the bank and I was granted a mortage for the house.

　　回到家后，我再次祈祷，隔个礼拜，一位妇女团体的女士说要投资我的公司两万美元！我知道是上帝帮助了我，我到银行，申请抵押贷款租那栋房子。

1 cramped   

a.狭窄的

参考例句：

• The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
• working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。