As a child I was taught that all honor goes to God, and as a man I've come to realize that whatever good I accomplish is done not by me but through me. It seems God believes I need a lesson in humility now and then so that I never lose my ability to engage and bond with others. Sometimes those lessons are hard. Sometimes they are hilarious.
2002年我还住在澳大利亚，我表弟纳森陪我去美国一个教会营会演讲。我们在活动的前一晚抵达，而因为长途飞行的时差，我们睡过头了。
I was still living in Australia in 2002 when my cousin Nathan Poljak accompanied me to the United States to speak at a church camp. We arrived the night before the engagement and were seriously jet-lagged by the long flight. We overslept.
按照预订计划，我应该要早起去教一堂《圣经》课，但没有人忍心叫醒我。结果我从昏沉状态中醒过来时，距离那堂课开始的时间只剩下15分钟。因为住得不远，所以我想应该还来得及，但是当我们冲到营会时，我突然想上厕所。相信我，这种事通常我自己处理得来，个中诀窍我不便透露，不过把拉链换成魔鬼毡帮助很大就是了。那天因为很急，纳森就说要帮我。他把我抱进公共厕所，然后让我办事。
I was scheduled to rise early to teach a Bible class, but no one had the heart to wake me. I rose from my coma just about fifteen minutes before the class was to start. We were staying nearby, so I thought we could still make it. We rushed to the camp, but when we arrived, I realized I had to use the restroom. Now, believe it or not, that's something I can usually do on my own. I will never give away my secret techniques, but replacing zippers with Velcro proved to be a big help. Nathan offered to assist me because we were in such a hurry. He carried me into a public restroom stall and set me up to do my business.
解决之后，纳森就进来帮我处理后续工作。正当我们要完成整个程序时，纳森把我的短裤掉到马桶里了。当我的尊严在慢动作的旋涡里消失无踪时，我们吓得张大嘴，当场呆掉。我站在那里，没有裤子可穿，而且《圣经》课迟到了。我毛骨悚然地瞪着表弟，他则回敬我惊慌失措。接着，我们忍不住爆笑起来，甚至没办法把裤子拉出来，因为我们实在笑得太疯狂了，愈笑就愈觉得好笑，一发不可收拾。纳森的笑声超级有感染力，当他一开始笑，我就忍不住了。我相信当天在厕所外面的人一定很纳闷，三号厕所到底发生了什么好笑的事，不然里头的人怎么那么开心?
Once I'd finished, Nathan came in to help me close up shop, and as we were completing the process, he dropped my shorts into the toilet bowl! We froze in horror with our mouths gaping as my dignity disappeared in a slow-motion whirlpool. There I stood, pant-less and overdue for my Bible school lecture. I stared in horror at my cousin. He mirrored my shock. And then we both set to laughing like two loons of the loo. We couldn't even fish my pants out because we were yucking it up so wildly, and our ineptitude made us even sillier with glee. Nathan has the most infectious laugh, and when he starts in, I can't help myself. I'm sure people standing outside the restroom wondered what was so hilarious in stall number three.
当我发现自己处在一个荒谬的情境时，我的表兄弟、堂兄弟，以及弟弟、妹妹帮助我学会一笑置之，这就是一个很典型的例子。他们也教我要依靠那些愿意帮忙的人，一旦觉得受不了了，就去寻求协助。我鼓励你也这么做。
My cousins and brother and sister helped me learn to laugh when I find myself in ridiculous situations, and this was certainly one of them. They've also taught me to lean on those willing to help and to ask for assistance when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I encourage you to do the same.
