點亮愛的星星燈

“誰負責這件事?”牧師問道，“我無法相信沒人管這事。兩天來我不斷接到詢問的電話，我不知道該如何向人們解釋。”

誰也記不起有多久了，萊丁頓山谷小山頂上那座古老的福音教堂一直是迷失了方向的人們的燈塔，不僅是精神上的，更是實際生活中為人們指引方向的路標。

“沿著主街，徑直向空中那顆最耀眼的星星前進。你不會找不到的。”旅客們總會聽到這樣的話。在古老教堂的尖頂之上有一顆耀眼的星星燈，由一只巨大的燈泡點亮。作為圣誕節裝飾的一部分，人們早就把它安置在那里，后來再也沒有將它取下。

但是兩天前，燈熄滅了。沒有了它，整座小鎮都陷入了迷茫。連土生土長的小鎮居民晚上都把頭轉來轉去，辨別方向。當一個過路人碰巧攔住鎮長詢問方向的時候，混亂開始了。“我抬起頭指向那盞星星燈，但它卻不在那兒。我以為自己看錯了方位，轉頭尋找那盞星星燈，但卻找不到。”他說，“只怕那個問路的家伙還在鎮里瞎轉呢。”

很快，福音教堂里的電話就響了。人們想知道發生了什么事。問題是，連牧師也不清楚怎么回事。那盞星星燈一直都在那兒。他不知道燈是被誰點亮的，也不知道燈泡在哪里。也就是說，直到那天下午一通電話響起之前，還是如此。

“牧師，我希望你能幫助我。”電話里的聲音說，“我是警察局長羅伯遜。我們剛從德萊尼家回來。我們發現老吉姆·德萊尼死了，好像已經死了大約兩天。”

“很抱歉。我必須告訴你，我對這個人并不熟悉。”牧師回答。

“似乎沒有人熟悉他。”警察局長說，“找不到知情的親屬或朋友。如果可能的話，我想請你在一小時內過來一趟。他家就在你的教堂所在的那個山谷對面主教山的土路旁。”

“我會去的。”他回答道。

牧師恰好在警察局長下車時抵達那里。“局長，你想讓我看什么?”

“進去再說，我想你會需要那份東西。”

走進屋內，他們看到了幾堆未開封的信件以及散落的各種各樣的書籍。

“過來，牧師。我想這是給你的。”

在壁爐架上放著一個附有白色小信封的盒子，信封上寫著“發自星星燈守護人，寫給福音教堂”。信的內容如下:

致相關人士:

1950年，我美麗的妻子米爾德里德病倒了。我們沒錢送她到療養院去度過她的余生，因此我自己在家照顧她。生病前，她每周日都去你們教堂做禮拜。生病后她沒法再去教堂，這令她非常沮喪。不過每個周日，我都會把她安置在屋前門廊上，這樣她就能看到山谷對面的教堂了。

那年圣誕節，有人在教堂尖頂上安了一盞星星燈。每天晚上米爾德里德都會一邊注視著那盞星星燈，一邊吟誦禱詞。一天晚上，我把她的輪椅推到窗前，那時她已幾乎無法呼吸了。當我打開窗簾時，她輕聲地說:“星星，那顆星星沒了。”等我轉過頭，她嘆了最后一口氣，頹然倒下。那天晚上，那盞星星燈確實沒有點亮。

她的葬禮結束以后，我找到牧師和他做了約定。我許諾在有生之年，我會一直點亮那盞星星燈來作為對亡妻的紀念。我的人生旅途即將到達終點，教堂可以賣掉我的財產以及我所擁有的一切來換取一份相助。在這個盒子里，我已經準備了足夠的燈泡可以使那盞星星燈點亮數年。教堂的門鑰匙在這個信封里。請在我死后找一個人來承擔點亮那盞星星燈的任務。我深愛我的妻子，因此我希望那盞星星燈能成為展示愛的例證。你可以說你愛某人，但是直到你把愛表示出來，它才能被看見。

——吉姆·德萊尼

“你說他什么時候死的，局長?”

“根據驗尸官的檢查結果是在兩天前。”

“那正是星星燈熄滅的時候，局長。”

牧師低頭思考片刻，然后抬起頭，“沒問題，德萊尼先生”，他說，“包在我身上!”

Love Made Visible

By Bob Pax

\"Who is responsible for this?\" the pastor asked.\"I can't believe that no one has taken care of it. I have been getting phone calls for two days. I didn't know what to tell them.\"

For longer than anyone can remember the old Gospel Church atop the hill in Reddington Valley served as a beacon for those who were lost. Not just spiritually but even as a landmark for giving directions.

\"Turn down Main Street and head toward the brightest star in the sky. You can't miss it.\" a traveler would hear.You see， on top of the old church steeple was a big bright star. It was lighted by a huge light bulb. They actually had placed it up there as part of a Christmas display and never took it down.

But two days ago the bulb burned out. The entire town was lost without it. It seemed that the locals were all turned about at night. The confusion started when someone passing through happened to stop the mayor to ask for directions. \"I looked up and pointed to the star. It wasn't there. Thinking I was facing the wrong way， I turned around looking for it but couldn't find it.\" he said. \"I think that guy is still riding around town.\"

Soon the phone started ringing at the old Gospel Church. People wanted to know what happened. The problem was even the Pastor didn't know. That star was just always there. He had no idea who kept it lit or where the light bulbs were. That is， until the phone rang late that afternoon.

\"Pastor， I'm hoping you can help us.\" the man said. \"This is Police Chief Robertson. We just got back from the Delaney house. We found old Jim Delaney dead. It seems he's been dead about two days.\"

\"I'm sorry. I must tell you that I'm not familiar with the man.\" the Pastor said.

\"No one seems to be.\" the Chief replied.\"There are no known relatives or friends available. I'd like you to come by in about an hour if you can. The house is up the dirt road on Bishop's Hill across the valley from your church.\"

\"I'll be there.\" he replied.

The Pastor arrived just as Chief Robertson pulled in. \"What is it you wanted me to see， Chief?\"

\"Come inside. I think you'll need this stuff.\"

As they entered the home they saw stacks of unopened mail along with various books scattered about.

\"Over here， Pastor. I believe this is for you.\"

There on the mantle of the fireplace was a box with a small white envelope attached. It said \"From the star keeper to The Gospel Church\". The note inside it read:

To whom it may concern，

Back in 1950 my beautiful wife Mildred became ill. We could not afford to place her in a home for her remaining months on this earth， so I took care of her. Before her illness she attended your church every Sunday. It was so very frustrating for her not to be able to， once she got sick. But every Sunday I would position her on the front porch so that she could see the church across the valley.

It was that Christmas someone placed a star on the steeple. Every night Mildred would say her prayers while gazing out at that star. I had just pushed her chair over to the window that night. She was barely able to breathe. As I pulled the shade up I heard her quietly say， \"The star. The star is gone.\" As I turned around she slumped over with one last sigh. The star indeed was not lit that night.

After her burial I approached the Pastor and made a deal with him. I agreed to keep the star lit for as long as I am alive as a memorial to my wife. I am near my journey's end. The church can sell my property and all I own in exchange for a favor. I have provided enough light bulbs in this box to keep the star lit a few more years. The key to the church door is inside this envelope. Please find someone who can take on the task of keeping the star lit after my death. I loved my wife very much so I want that star to serve as an example of what love can be. You can say you love someone， but it's not until you show it that love is made visible.

——Jim Delaney

\"When did you say he died， Chief?\"

\"Two days ago according to the coroner.\"

\"That's when the star burned out， Chief.\"

The Pastor looked down for a moment， then looked back up， \"Consider it done， Mr. Delaney.\" said the Pastor.\"Consider it done!\"

[譯自國外英文網站]