今天读到一篇祷文，被深深打动。句句诚挚，切中要害，我在其中看见了我自己。正如卢云所说，人最容易被试探的那些方面：成功、受欢迎、拥有能力。更让我警醒的是，十七世纪的修女尚且为“凡事都必须加点意见”而自省，在个人媒体时代，人人都可以发表观点和意见的时代，表达意见、好为人师、展示自己美好的一面，的确成为一种隐藏极深的试探。至少对我而言是这样。
一篇十七世纪修女的祷文
神啊，你比我更了解我自己……
求你让我远离那必死的恶习，以为自己凡事都必须加点意见，每个场合都必须说些话。
求你释放我脱离好为人师的欲念，使我设想周到而不唠唠叨叨，乐意助人而不指指点点。我虽以为若不尽用我丰富的智慧，似乎有点可惜；但是，神啊，你知道，到头来，我还是希望身边有几个朋友。
让我不要只顾啰嗦繁琐细节，而能快快把握重点。
我不敢求记忆力有所增递，但当与别人的记忆相抵触时，让我有多一点谦卑和少一点自恃。教导我那宝贵的功课：偶尔我也会记错。
求你赐我在意想不到的地方，能看见美好的事物；在意想不到的人身上，能看见才华。还有，神啊，赐我恩典去告诉他们我在他们身上所看见的。阿门。
李谢纯姬 译
A Seventeenth-century Nun’s Prayer
God you know me better than I know myself……
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint – some of them are so hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
AMEN
