山路歷險記（二）
I moved into the slow lane, next to the dreaded edge, and swept around the terrifying curve. I kept my eyes riveted on the road directly ahead. Down and down I went. The curve seemed like it would never end. But all the way down the mountain I felt love encircling me, keeping me safe from my fear and guiding me.
Finally I came to a rest area and pulled in. I sagged back in the seat. I unclenched my hands and looked at my fingers, white and bent. The presence I felt so strongly inside the car began to fade, and with it went the last residue of the fear that had gripped me these past several days. It drained from me like a poison. I closed my eyes and said a prayer of thanks before putting the car in gear and returning to the highway.
I awoke early the next morning in Los Angeles and glanced at the clock: 6:30, which meant 9:30 back home in Georgia. I lay there for a time, thinking about the day before and what I'd discovered that God's perfect love can conquer any situation. He can control things that are beyond our control, even the most crippling fear.
I picked up the phone and dialed my parents' home in Savannah. A soft, familiar voice answered. "Hi, Lillian," I said. "We made it to California all right."
There was a pause and a little sigh from the other end. Then Lil-lian murmured, "Thank You, Jesus.
A little electric tingle seemed to run up my spine. "Why do you say that, Lillian?'
"I have to thank Him. I prayed all day for you yesterday. I asked Him to ride with you and keep you safe, to put His hand on your shoulder. He did, didn't He?"
"Oh, yes, Lillian," I answered, "yes, He did."
我開進了慢車道，緊挨著崖邊轉過了令人心驚的急彎。我兩眼直視前方，一路下坡又下坡。彎道似乎沒有盡頭，但下山的路上始終有一股濃濃的愛意包圍著我，保護著我，指引著我。
總算來到一處落腳休息的地方，我把車停靠了下來。我靠在椅背上，松開雙手，看到手指煞白且無法伸直。剛才強烈意識到的那股神力開始隱退，折磨了我幾天的恐懼也隨之遠去，一絲不剩，仿佛我體內的毒液完全排干了。我合上雙目，感謝上蒼，然后掛擋上路。
第二天早上在洛杉磯，我一覺早早醒來，看鐘：早晨六點半，這意味著再有三個小時，即九點半時，我就可以回到佐治亞州的家中了。我在床上躺了一會兒，回顧著頭天的情景和自己的發現：上帝偉大的愛可以征服一切。他能主宰我們應付不了的局面，甚至能驅跑令人魂飛魄散的恐懼。
我拿起電話，撥通了薩凡納市我父母的家。那邊是我熟悉而溫和的聲音。“喂，莉蓮。”我告訴她，“我們一路平安到達了加州。”
稍許停了一下，我聽到她輕輕舒了口氣。接著莉蓮低聲說道：“感謝上蒼!”
一股電流似乎穿過了我的脊柱。“為什么說這個，莉蓮?”
“我一定要感謝上帝。昨天我為你祈禱了一整天。我求他與你同行，保佑你安全，把他的手放在你的肩上。他真的做到了，不是嗎?”
“是的，莉蓮，”我說，“他確實做到了。”
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