這是我部落格的格照，我很喜歡的一幅畫，它是我的目標，正如單樞機主教（單國璽神父）說的：如何從犧牲享受的思維到能真正享受犧牲。它代表的正是這個意義！
THE PRAYING HANDS
In a tiny village near Nuremberg , in the fifteenth century, lived a family with eighteen children. The father, Albrecht Durer the elder, a goldsmith by profession and head of the household, worked over eighteen hours a day at his trade to support this large family. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of the children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
Albrecht Durer
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother whilst he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who had won the toss completed his studies, in four years time would then support the other brother at the Academy.
They tossed a coin on the Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg . His brother Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years-financed Albrecht, whose work at the Academy was almost an immediate sensation.
Albrecht’s art
Albrecht’s etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors were, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honoured position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that that had enable Albrecht to fulfil his ambition. His closing words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.” All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face. Shaking his lowered head from side to side, while he sobbed and repeated, over and over. “No…no…no…no.”
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly. “No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg . It is too late for me. Look…look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or brush. No, brother…for me it is too late.”
祈禱的手
十五世紀在紐倫堡附近一個小村莊，住著有十八個小孩的貧困家庭。阿爾佈雷希特（Albrecht Dürer:）的父親在一間金鋪工作，他們的父親一天得工作超過十八小時。儘管生活經濟看似無望，但是其中兩個孩子有個夢想。 他們都想追求藝術，他們也有天份，但他們清楚知道，他們的父親無法在經濟上提供他們其中的一個人去紐倫堡藝術學院進修。
經過長時間討論，有天晚上在擁擠的床上，這兩個男孩最後討論出一個方法。 他們用投一枚硬幣來決定未來。丟輸的人得先去附近的礦山工作，賺錢支援他的兄弟去讀書。然後等四年後他完成學業，再換另一個人去學院讀書。他們在星期天的早晨去教堂扔了一枚硬幣。 阿爾佈雷希特（Albrecht Dürer:）贏得先去紐倫堡藝術學院進修的機會。他的哥哥亞伯特（Albert）進入危險的地底工作和接下來的四年資助阿爾佈雷希特在學院的費用。
當阿爾佈雷希特完成學業時，他的藝術成就遠比其他教授還出色，當他畢業後開始賺錢時。這位年輕畫家回到他的村子，家裡為阿爾佈雷希特舉行慶祝他凱旋歸返的餐會。在音樂與歡笑聲中吃完飯後，阿爾佈雷希特舉杯感謝，他親愛的兄弟這四年來的犧牲，讓他能有這樣的機會與成就。阿爾佈雷希特要履行他當年的承諾。他告訴亞伯特：我可敬的兄弟，現在輪到你去完成你的夢想，你可以到紐倫堡學院追求你的夢想，換我來照顧你。全家人都朝著亞伯特坐的地方看。這時候亞伯特蒼白的臉上流下來眼淚，他無語的搖搖頭一遍又一遍地重複：No…no…no…no。
最後亞伯特站起身，用手從他的雙頰擦乾眼淚。他的眼睛望著長桌那邊的兄弟阿爾佈雷希特，然後他舉起手靠近阿爾佈雷希特的臉頰輕輕地說：我的好兄弟，我已經不能去紐倫堡了，太晚了！看看我的雙手Look…look 在礦山工作四年後，我的每個手指骨已經粗糙扭曲變形，我患有關節炎，我甚至無法握住杯子和夾麵包給你啊！更無法拿一枝筆畫一條線或毛刷在畫布上畫圖啊 ！不，我的兄弟brother…for 我是太晚了。
為了他的兄弟，亞伯特犧牲了他的藝術前程，努力工作賺錢，沒有半點怒忿和不憤的心。更難得的是，亞伯特對阿爾佈雷希特所得的成就絲毫沒有任何的猜忌或怨憤，也沒有因喪失藝術前途而怨天尤人。一天晚上，阿爾佈雷希特看見亞伯特跪在地上，舉起雙手禱告，連忙把亞伯特粗糙的手畫下來。亞伯特的手一點也不美麗，但這雙手是甘心犧牲自己、成全他人的手；這雙手的主人，也似乎已經完全明白禱告的真義。
下次當你再看到這張畫作時，請多看它幾分鐘，因為那是一雙犧牲奉獻的手、一雙最有力量的手、一雙全世界上最美的雙手！
