It was the last day of final examinations in a large Eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam—then on to commencement and jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get. With all this assurance of four years of college, they felt ready and able to conquer the world.
The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap. The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted. Requesting only that they did not talk to each other during the test.
Jubilantly they filed into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essaytype questions.
Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. No one spoke as, papers in hand, the professor faced the class.
He surveyed the worried faces before him, then asked: “how many completed all five questions?”
Not a hand was raised.
“How many answered four?”
Still no hands.
“Three? Two?”
The students shifted restlessly in their seats.
“One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.”
But the class remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I expected,” he said.
“I just want to impress upon you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know. These questions you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added: “You will all pass this course, but remember—even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun.”
The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.
那是在一所东部大学期末考试的最后一天。一座教学楼的阶梯上，有一群工程系大四学生挤在一起讨论几分钟后将要开始的考试。他们脸上充满自信。这是他们最后一次考试了，接着就等毕业典礼，然后参加工作。
这些学生中有的正在谈论刚刚找到的工作，也有的谈论将来会找什么样的工作。他们对四年的所学信心十足，感觉自己已经可以去一闯天下了。
他们知道即将开始的考试将会是小菜一碟，因为此前这门课的教授说本次考试为开卷考试，只要愿意，什么书本笔记都可以带进考场。要求只有一点：考试期间不许交头接耳。
学生们兴高采烈，陆续进入教室，教授把试卷发给他们。他们发现试卷上只有五道问答题，于是笑容更加灿烂了。
三个小时过去了，教授开始收卷子。学生们先前的`自信早已荡然无存。他们流露出担心的表情。教授拿着试卷看着学生们，没人说话。
他扫视了一下大家苦恼的表情，然后问道：“有多少人答完了五道题?”
没有一个人举手。
“有多少人答完了四道题?”
还是没有人举手。
“三道题?两道题?”
这时学生们在自己的座位上坐立不安了。
“那么，有谁答上来一道题?一定有人做完了一道题。”
但是学生们依然沉默。教授放下手中的卷子，说道：“这正是我所预计的。”
“我只是想让你们铭记于心，即使你们已经完成了四年工程学的学习，这个学科仍然有很多你们不知道的东西。这些你们回答不出的问题在日常实践中却是司空见惯的。”接着他笑了笑，补充道：“你们都能通过这门课，但是要记住：即便你们现在已经是大学毕业生了，你们在这一行的学习才刚刚开始。”
岁月的流逝已使我已记不清这位教授的名字，但是他所教授的这一课却依然历历在目。
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull in the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering—waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!” We cry. “When I'm 18.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118：24：“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isnt the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
我们的潜意识里藏着一派田园诗般的风光!我们仿佛身处一次横贯大陆的漫漫旅程之中!乘着火车，我们领略着窗外流动的景色：附近公路上奔驰的汽车、十字路口处招手的孩童、远山上吃草的牛群、源源不断地从电厂排放出的烟尘、一片片的玉米和小麦、平原与山谷、群山与绵延的丘陵、天空映衬下城市的轮廓，以及乡间的庄园宅第!
然而我们心里想得最多的却是最终的目的地!在某一天的某一时刻，我们将会抵达进站!迎接我们的将是乐队和飘舞的彩旗!一旦到了那儿，多少美梦将成为现实，我们的生活也将变得完整，如同一块理好的拼图!可是我们现在却在过道里不耐烦地踱来踱去，咒骂火车的拖拖拉拉!我们期待着，期待着，期待着火车进站的那一刻!
“当我们到站的时候，一切就都好了!”我们呼喊着。“当我18岁的时候!”“当我有了一辆新450SL奔驰的时候!”“当我供最小的孩子念完大学的时候!”“当我偿清贷款的时候!”“当我官升高任的时候!”“当我退休的时候，就可以从此过上幸福的生活啦!”
可是我们终究会认识到人生的旅途中并没有车站，也没有“一到永逸”的地方!生活的真正乐趣在于旅行的过程，而车站不过是个梦，它始终遥遥领先于我们!
“享受现在”是句很好的箴言，尤其是当它与《圣经·诗篇》中第118章24节的一段话相映衬的时候, 更是如此：“今日乃主所创造；生活在今日我们将欢欣、高兴!”真正令人发疯的不是今日的负担，而是对昨日的悔恨及对明日的恐惧!悔恨与恐惧是一对孪生窃贼，将今天从你我身边偷走!
那么就不要在过道里徘徊吧，别老惦记着你离车站还有多远!何不换一种活法，将更多的高山攀爬，多吃点儿冰激凌甜甜嘴巴，经常光着脚板儿溜达溜达，在更多的河流里畅游，多看看夕阳西下，多点欢笑，少点泪水吧!生命只是一段旅程!车站会很快到达。