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37 My Life as a Clergyman
我的牧师生活
I'm a clergyman. I have been a member of the clergy for about twenty-one years.
我是一名牧师，我已做了21年的神职人员。
I'm the only priest in my clan.
我还是家族中的唯一的一名牧师，
I work in an old church at the edge of a cliff.
我在悬崖边的一座老教堂工作。
The aged walls are made out of clay and wood.
教堂古老的墙壁是用泥土和木头做的。
In certain areas of the church, we've had to clamp the wood together to prevent if from falling apart.
在教堂里的某些地方，我们不得不将木头夹紧才能防止脱落。
The church looked a lot better twenty years ago when we clinched the deal to buy this property.
20年前，我们达成交易，决定买下这块房产时的教堂要比现在漂亮多了。
I take confessions everyday.
我每天都要接受人们的忏悔。
People like confessing to a priest because it cleanses their soul.
人们喜欢向一个教士忏悔。因为这样能净化他们的灵魂。
Some people confess simple sins, such as stealing a clam or starting at the cleft of a woman's bosom.
有些人忏悔一般的小过错，比如偷了一只蛤蜊或者偷看女人的乳沟。
Usually, I don't need to ask them to clarify these types of confessions.
通常，我不必让他们对这类罪过进行澄清。
Others confess very bad sins, like killing someone during a clandestine government operation.
其他人则忏悔深重的罪孽，比如在秘密的政府行动中谋杀某人。
I never ask for clarification when someone makes this type of confession.
我从不要求这样的忏悔者做任何阐述。
I like giving the Sunday sermon.
我喜欢做礼拜天的布道。
I make it a point to save the climax of my talk until the very end.
我总是在讲话最后才将布道推向高潮。
I can tell that people like it this way because they clap loudly.
我能看出人们喜欢这样，因为他们会大声鼓掌。
Lately, I've been thinking of changing the way I conduct church.
最近，我在考虑改变我履行圣职的方式。
I want to do a better job of catering to the variety of needs in my congregation.
我想更好地满足广大教众的各种不同需要。
It's because people who come to my church can be classified into two groups.
原因在于来教堂的人可以分为两类：
One group clings to tradition church values and comes to honor God.
一类人墨守传统教义，他们来教堂是为了敬仰上帝；
The other group has a clinging lifestyle of sinning all week and seeking redemption on Sundays.
另一类人一贯坚持生活方式就是一星期头六天都在造孽，到星期日再求赎罪。
If I could prepare a separate sermon for each group according to their classification, I think I could better address their specific needs.
如果我能按这两类人的不同分类分别准备一次布道，我想就能更好地针对他们的具体需要。
However, it might cause a clamor.
但这也许会招致一场喧嚣。
What do you think?
你认为如何？
