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一天，一位圣徒在与上帝的交谈中问道：“上帝啊，能不能告诉我天堂和地狱是怎样的情形?” 于是，上帝带他来到两扇门前，打开其中的一扇，让圣徒看个究竟。只见屋子的中央有个大圆桌，上面是一锅香喷喷的炖肉，圣徒禁不住胃口大开、垂涎欲滴。 可是桌子周围的食客却一个个面黄肌瘦,病恢恹地打不起精神，看上去食不果腹、饥肠辘辘。他们手里都有调羹，只是这调羹的柄太长了，而且都被皮带绑在胳膊上，比整个手臂都长。所以他们即使能够得着锅里的炖肉，也能舀起满勺的美味，但是没有一个人能把胳膊收回来，只能眼睁睁地看着近在咫尺的美食却没有口福。这些人干着急、活受罪的惨状令圣徒触目惊心、不寒而栗。这时上帝在一旁说道•• “你看见的就是地狱。” 然后他们走向另一个房间，推门观看。只见里面的摆设跟刚刚看过的地狱一模一样：中间是巨大的圆桌，摆着一大锅鲜美的炖肉,看得圣徒又咽了口唾沫。 桌子周围的人们手臂上也是绑着长柄勺子，但是他们却红光满面、心宽体胖，谈笑风生、不亦乐乎。 圣徒见状大惑不解:“这是怎么回事?” 上帝说道:“很简单，这里的人们只不过领会了互帮互助、相依为命的道理罢了。” Heaven and Hell A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said，“ Lord，I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. ” The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table on which a large pot of stew smelled delicious, making the holy man’s mouth water. But the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms' length, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said，“ Y ou have seen Hell. ” They then went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons，however here the people were well nourished and plump，laughing and talking. The holy man said, “I don’t understand. ” “It is simple，’’said the Lord. “In this place the people have learned to feed one another. |
