原文
Who is of so little faith that in a moment of great disaster or heartbreak has not called to his God? Who has not cried out when confronted with danger, death, or mystery beyond his normal experience or comprehension? From where has this deep instinct come which escapes from the mouth of all living creatures in moments of peril?

Move your hand in haste before another's eyes and his eyelids will blink. Tap another on his knee and his leg will jump. Confront another with dark horror and his mouth will say, "My God" from the same deep impulse.

My life need not be filled with religion in order for me to recognize this greatest mystery of nature. All creatures that walk the earth, including man, possess the instinct to cry for help. Why do we possess this instinct, this gift?

Are not our cries a form of prayer? Is it not incomprehensible in a world governed by nature's laws to give a lamb, or a mule, or a bird, or man the instinct to cry out for help lest some great mind has also provided that the cry should be heard by some superior power having the ability to hear and to answer our cry? Henceforth I will pray, but my cries for help will only be cries for guidance.

Never will I pray for the material things of the world. I am not calling to a servant to bring me food. I am not ordering an innkeeper to provide me with room. Never will I seek delivery of gold, love, good health, petty victories, fame, success, or happiness. Only for guidance will I pray, that I may be shown the way to acquire these things, and my prayer will always be answered.

The guidance I seek may come, or the guidance I seek may not come, but are not both of these an answer? If a child seeks bread from his father and it is not forthcoming has not the father answered?

I will pray for guidance, and I will pray as a salesman, in this manner Oh creator of all things, help me. For this day I go out into the world naked and alone, and without your hand to guide me I will wander far from the path which leads to success and happiness.

I ask not for gold or garments or even opportunities equal to my ability; instead, guide me so that I may acquire ability equal to my opportunities.

You have taught the lion and the eagle how to hunt and prosper with teeth and claw. Teach me how to hunt with words and prosper with love so that I may be a lion among men and an eagle in the market place.

Help me to remain humble through obstacles and failures; yet hide not from mine eyes the prize that will come with victory.

Assign me tasks to which others have failed; yet guide me to pluck the seeds of success from their failures. Confront me with fears that will temper my spirit; yet endow me with courage to laugh at my misgivings.

Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals; yet help me to live this day as though it be my last.

Guide me in my words that they may bear fruit; yet silence me from gossip that none be maligned.

Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again; yet show me the way to make use of the law of averages. Favor me with alertness to recognize opportunity; yet endow me with patience which will concentrate my strength.

Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may drown; yet grant me compassion for weaknesses in others. Suffer me to know that all things shall pass; yet help me to count my blessings of today.

Expose me to hate so it not be a stranger; yet fill my cup with love to turn strangers into friends.

But all these things be only if thy will. I am a small and a lonely grape clutching the vine yet thou hast made me different from all others. Verily, there must be a special place for me. Guide me. Help me. Show me the way.

Let me become all you planned for me when my seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world.

Help this humble salesman. Guide me, God.


譯文
即使沒有信仰的人，遇到災難的時候，不是也呼求神的保佑嗎？一個人在面臨危險、死亡或一些從未見過或無法理解的神秘之事時，不曾失聲大喊嗎？每一個生靈在危險的剎那都會脫口而出的這種強烈的本能是由何而生的呢？

把你的手在別人眼前出莫不意地揮一下，你會發現他的眼瞼本能地一眨；在他的膝蓋上輕輕一擊，他的腿會跳動；在黑暗中嚇一個朋友，他會本能地大叫一聲“天啊”。

不管你有沒有宗教信仰，這些自然現象誰也無法否認。世上的所有生物，包括人類，都具有求助的本能。為什么我們會有這種本能，這種恩賜呢？

我們發出的喊聲，不是一種祈禱的方式嗎？人們無法理解，在一個受自然法則統治的世界里，上蒼將這種求救的本能賜予了羊、驢子、小鳥、人類，同時也規定這種求救的聲音應被一種超凡的力量聽到并作出回應。從今往后，我要祈禱，但是我只求指點迷津。

我從不求物質的滿足。我不祈求有仆人為我送來食物，不求屋舍、金銀財寶、愛情、健康、小的勝利、名譽、成功或者幸福。我只求得到指引，指引我獲得這些東西的途徑，我的禱告都有回音。

我所祈求的指引，可能得到，也可能得不到，但這兩種結果不都是一種回音？如果一個孩子問爸爸要面包，面包沒有到手，這不也是父親的答復嗎？

我要祈求指導，以一個推銷員的身份來祈禱--

萬能的主啊，幫助我吧！今天，我獨自一人，赤條條地來到這個世上，沒有您的雙手指引，我將遠離通向成功與幸福的道路。

我不求金錢或衣衫，甚至不求適合我能力的機遇，我只求您引導我獲得適合機遇的能力。

您曾教獅子和雄鷹如何利用牙齒和利爪覓食。求您教給我如何利用言辭謀生，如何借助愛心得興旺，使我能成為人中的獅子，商場上的雄鷹。

幫助我！讓我經歷挫折和失敗后仍能謙恭待人，讓我看見勝利的獎賞。

把別人不能完成的工作交給我，指引我由他們的失敗中，獲取成功的種子。讓我面對恐懼，好磨煉我的精神。給我勇氣嘲笑自己的疑慮和膽怯。

賜給我足夠的時間，好讓我達到目標。幫助我珍惜每日如最后一天。

引導我言出必行，行之有果。讓我在流言蜚中保持緘默。

鞭策我，讓我養成一試再試的習慣。教我使用平衡法則的方法。讓我保持敏感，得以抓住機會。賜給我耐心，得以集中力量。

讓我養成良好的習慣，戒除不良嗜好。賜給我同情心，同情別人的弱點。讓我知道，一切都將過去，卻也能計算每日的恩賜。

讓我看出何謂仇恨，使我對它不再陌生。但讓我充滿愛心，使陌生人變成朋友。

但這一切祈求都要合乎您的意愿。我只是個微不足道的人物，如那孤零零掛在藤上的葡萄。然而您使我與眾不同。事實上，我必須有一個特別的位置。指引我，幫助我，讓我看到前方的路。

當您把我種下，讓我在世界的葡萄園里發芽，讓我成為您為我計劃的一切。

幫助我這個謙卑的推銷員吧！

主啊，指引我！

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