I’m not sure I know where this book is going. I’m not sure where to begin.

Let’s take time.

How much time do we need to take? It’s already taken me five months to get from the first chapter to this. I know that people read this and think it’s all put down in one even, uninterrupted flow. They don’t realize that 20 weeks separated the 32nd and 33rd paragraph of this book. They don’t under-stand that sometimes the moments of inspiration are half a year apart. How much time do we have to take?

That’s not what I meant. I mean, let’s take “Time” as our first subject, as a place to begin.

Oh. Okay. But while we’re on the subject, why does it take months sometimes to complete a simple paragraph? Why are You so long between visits?

My dear and wonderful son, I am not long between “visits.” I am never not with you. You are simply not always aware.

Why? Why am I not aware of You if You’re always here?

Because your life gets caught up in other things. Let’s face it; you’ve had a pretty busy five months.

I have. Yes, I have. A lot’s been going on.

And you’ve made these things more important than Me.

That doesn’t feel like my truth.

I invite you to look at your actions. You’ve been deeply involved in your physical life. You’ve paid very little attention to your soul.

It’s been a challenging period.

Yes. All the more reason to have included your soul in the process. These past months would have all gone much more smoothly¹ with My help. So may I suggest that you don’t lose contact?

I try to stay close, but I seem to get lost—caught up, as You put it—in my own drama. And then, somehow, I don’t find time for You. I don’t meditate². I don’t pray. And I certainly don’t write.

I know. It’s an irony³ of life that when you need our connection the most, you step away from it.

How can I stop doing that?

Stop doing that.

That’s what I just said. But how?

You stop doing that by stopping doing that.

It’s not that simple.

点击收听单词发音  

1 smoothly
adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地
参考例句：
The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。 Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

2 meditate
v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想
参考例句：
It is important to meditate on the meaning of life.思考人生的意义很重要。 I was meditating,and reached a higher state of consciousness.我在冥想，并进入了一个更高的意识境界。

3 irony
n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄
参考例句：
She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。 In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。

4 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 ongoing
adj.进行中的，前进的
参考例句：
The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。 The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 dynamics
n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态
参考例句：
In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。 Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

7 interactive
adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的
参考例句：
The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。 This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

8 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

10 secondly
adv.第二，其次
参考例句：
Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。 Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

11 judgment
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。 He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

12 likeness
n.相像，相似（之处）
参考例句：
I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。 She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

13 precisely
adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地
参考例句：
It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。 The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

14 genie
n.妖怪，神怪
参考例句：
Now the genie of his darkest and weakest side was speaking.他心灵中最阴暗最软弱的部分有一个精灵在说话。 He had to turn to the Genie of the Ring for help.他不得不向戒指神求助。

15 literally
adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实
参考例句：
He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。 Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

16 wastefully
浪费地，挥霍地，耗费地
参考例句：
He soon consumed his fortune, ie spent the money wastefully. 他很快就把财产挥霍殆尽。 Small Q is one flies upwards the bracelet youth, likes enjoying noisily, spends wastefully. 小Q则是一个飞扬跳脱的青年，爱玩爱闹，花钱大手大脚。

17 activated
adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

18 awareness
n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智
参考例句：
There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。 Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

19 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

20 machinery
n.(总称)机械，机器；机构
参考例句：
Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？ Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

21 courageously
ad.勇敢地，无畏地
参考例句：
Under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the army and civilians in flooded areas fought the floods courageously, reducing the losses to the minimum. 在中共中央、国务院的正确领导下，灾区广大军民奋勇抗洪，把灾害的损失减少到了最低限度。 He fought death courageously though his life was draining away. 他虽然生命垂危，但仍然勇敢地与死亡作斗争。

22 tricky
adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的
参考例句：
I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？ He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

23 counterfeit
vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的
参考例句：
It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。 The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

24 grimace
v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭
参考例句：
The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。 Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。

25 acting
n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的
参考例句：
Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。 During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

26 miraculous
adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的
参考例句：
The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。 They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

27 virgin
n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的
参考例句：
Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？ There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

28 levitated
v.（使）升空，（使）漂浮( levitate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The magician levitated the woman. 魔术师把那名妇女浮在空中。 来自互联网 Lastly, the maglev planar motor was levitated stably. 最后，实现了磁悬浮平面电机悬浮系统的稳定悬浮。 来自互联网

29 demonstration
n.表明，示范，论证，示威
参考例句：
His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。 He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

30 ego
n.自我，自己，自尊
参考例句：
He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。 She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。

31 unity
n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调
参考例句：
When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。 We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

32 exquisite
adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的
参考例句：
I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。 I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

33 disillusion
vt.使不再抱幻想，使理想破灭
参考例句：
Do not say anything to disillusion them.别说什么叫他们泄气的话。 I'd hate to be the one to disillusion him.我不愿意成为那个让他幻想破灭的人。

34 disillusioned
a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的
参考例句：
I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。 Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。

35 sporadically
adv.偶发地，零星地
参考例句：
There are some trees sporadically around his house. 他的房子周围零星地有点树木。 来自辞典例句 As for other aspects, we will sporadically hand out questionnaires. 在其他方面，我们会偶尔发送调查问卷。 来自互联网

36 meditated
深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑
参考例句：
He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。 She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。

37 evoked
[医]诱发的
参考例句：
The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。 Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。

38 flickering
adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的
参考例句：
The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。 The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。

39 realization
n.实现；认识到，深刻了解
参考例句：
We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。 He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

40 implement
n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行
参考例句：
Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。 The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

41 pendulum
n.摆，钟摆
参考例句：
The pendulum swung slowly to and fro.钟摆在慢慢地来回摆动。 He accidentally found that the desk clock did not swing its pendulum.他无意中发现座钟不摇摆了。

42 rustles
n.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的名词复数 )v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
A slight breeze rustles the tan grass. 微风拂来，黄褐色的草沙沙作响。 来自互联网

43 fragrance
n.芬芳，香味，香气
参考例句：
The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。 The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

44 yearns
渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
Every man yearns for sympathy in sorrow. 每个遇到不幸的人都渴望得到同情。 What I dread is to get into a rut. One yearns for freshness of thought and ideas. 我害怕的就是墨守成规。人总是向往新思想和新观念的。

45 meditation
n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录
参考例句：
This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。 I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。