One night many years ago I was on the bridge of a ship passing one of our large cities on a quiet night. I saw its lights1in the sky and heard the city's noises.

    I have spent twenty-five years on boats. Now I am a 2. My job is to bring in the large luxury3and stay with them until they are safely stopped in their ports.

    I felt very 4the first time I ever docked a big liner. She came5up the harbor on a flood tide and towered high over the short little boat. As we drew alongside, a doorway opened6at water level and two smartly dressed sailors helped me aboard.

    I was escorted to the bridge where I 7from the captain. I realized I was in 8of a great ship worth millions of dollars. Having docked several of the large liners, I realized I was not important, 9simply the quarterback who called the signals.

    In spite of 10we read in the newspapers, I have great faith in this country, praying that a peaceful understanding will come to this11world, so that my children can grow up in a world full of happiness. I believe this will come 12.

    I remember the understanding and 13 that took over this country, back in 1949, when a little girl named Kathy Fiskus 14into an old well in California. Engineers and sandhogs and people in all walks of life worked almost three days, and when they got her out she was dead.

    People sent in thousands of dollars in 15 funds, but those who did the work and 16 the equipment wouldn't take the money. They worked for bigger things. I talked to captains of foreign 17 that came into New York Harbor, and they were just as 18 as we Americans over the tragedy.

I believe some 19 will be found to work together for world peace with the same sympathy and understanding that people worked to rescue little Kathy Fiskus. I believe God will 20 bring this about.

    Growing roots

    When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd 1 known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn't 2 lives, he was planting trees.

The good doctor had some3 theories on planting trees. He believed in "No pains, no gains". He never 4 his new trees, which was5 many people. Once I asked why. He 6 that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you water them, each following tree generation will 7 weaker and weaker. So you have to make things8 for them. He talked about how watering trees

    9 shallow roots, and how trees that weren't watered had to grow deep roots in

    10 of water. I came to understand that he meant deep roots were to be 11 I planted a couple of trees a few years back and I took good care of them. Two years of12 has resulted in trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot. Whenever a cold wind blows, they 13and tremble their branches. Funny things about those trees of Dr. Gibbs'. The lack of water seemed to 14them in ways comfort and ease never could.

    I used to15for my sons that their lives will be easy. But16 I've been thinking that it's time to17 my prayer. I know my children are going to meet

    18 and I'm praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is seldom met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots,19when the winds blow, we won't be20away.

    In 2009 we were staying at our cousin's house in Triora, Italy. Settled just above a window was a bird's nest which my 1 said had been there for many years. Each year, different families of starlings (椋鸟) came back to make it their 2.

    We knew they were 3 because the chattering (鸣叫) of six newly hatched chicks 4us early every morning. Standing on a chair, I 5 to look into their nest. The first time I looked, the chicks were 6 and almost featherless. Their parents 7 backwards and forwards, bringing food to 8 their hungry and noisy chicks.

    Being 9 parents, whenever they saw me they screamed and flew at the window. So I could only 10 the chicks when they weren't around.

    11 the chicks were only a few days old, I realized the parents were teaching their young to fly. One brave chick beat its wings a few times and then 12 across the street landing on the roof of the house 13. Well done, I thought. The next day, my husband and I left for a tour and I was 14, thinking of how I would miss the rest taking their first 15.

    Two weeks later, on our 16, the first thing I did was look in the nest. It was 17. Then, suddenly, I head the beating of 18 and all eight of them were flying toward me. They 19a semicircle, singing to me. I felt as though they were saying, “Thank you for not harming us.” Then they flew off 20 into the blue sky.

    A storm was coming, but Alex was too busy fixing her leg bandage to notice it. She said to herself, "Great. I 1 myself the week before Cross Country Running tryouts (锦标赛). I am so 2. Why did I think running through the forest would be a good idea in the first place?"

    After 3, Alex went to the kitchen and poured herself some lemonade. She opened the door to her 4 and sat down outside. "Every year, I work so hard and yet, I always 5," Alex said. This year, I was one spot away from Varsity(校队). The previous 6, I handed in my medical forms late…"

    Suddenly there was a flash of 7. It sounded like it's going to be a thunderstorm, Alex thought and 8 to head inside. She tried to 9 the door, only to find that she had locked herself out. 10, Alex shook the door handle 11 back and forth. As she took a quick step backwards, she lost her 12 and fell down. "Why me?" she yelled. "Why did this all happen to me?" Once Alex 13 to pull herself up, she sat silently on the staircase. As rapidly as the rain poured from the sky, so did the 14 stream down Alex's face. Alone and wet, Alex cried until all the 15and wetness of the day washed away. Finally, when she16crying, she looked up at a suddenly 17 image of her backyard. The air felt light and the sun shone through the clouds. 18 her leg still felt stiff, Alex tore off the 19 and stood up. "I will take part in the Cross Country this year and I will make Varsity," Alex 20 with a breath of inspiration, "Nothing will stop me."

    It was 1933. I had been laid off my part-time job and could no longer make my1to the family larder(食品贮藏柜). Our only income was what Mother could make by doing dressmaking for others.

    Then Mother was2for a few weeks and unable to work. The electric company cut off the power3we couldn't pay the bill. Then the gas company cut off the gas. Then the4company. But the Health Department made them5the water back on for reasons of sanitation(卫生设备) The cupboard got very bare. 6we had vegetable garden and were able to cook some of its7in a campfire in the backyard.

    Then one day my younger sister came tripping8 from school, saying: "We're supposed to 9something to school tomorrow to give to the poor."

    Mother started to blurt out, "I don't know of anyone who is10poorer than we are," when her mother, who was living with us at the time, shushed (嘘) her with hand on her arm and11.

    "Eva," she said, "if you12that child the idea that she is one of the poor folks'13 her age, she will be one of the poor folks' for the rest of her14. There is one jar of that homemade jelly15.She can take that.

    Grandmother16our last jar of jelly with some tissue paper and a little bit of pink ribbon, and Sis17to school the next day18 carrying her" gift to the poor”.

    And, 19if there was a problem in the community, Sis just naturally assumed that she was supposed to be part of the20.