English Original
The sole survivor of a shipwreck washed ashore on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for rescue, scanning the horizon daily, but to no avail.
Exhausted, he built a small hut from driftwood for shelter and to store his meager possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he returned to find his hut engulfed in flames, smoke billowing into the sky. Everything was lost.
Stunned by grief and anger, he cried out, "God, how could you do this to me!"
Early the next morning, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. It had come to save him. "How did you know I was here?" the weary man asked his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It's easy to lose heart when things go wrong. But we must not despair, for even in our pain and suffering, a greater plan may be at work. Remember, when your "hut" burns down, it might just be a smoke signal summoning grace.
For every negative thought we harbor, there can be a positive answer.
中文翻译
一场海难的唯一幸存者被冲上了一座无人居住的小岛。他狂热地祈祷获救，每天眺望海平线寻求帮助，却一无所获。
精疲力竭的他最终用浮木搭起了一个小棚屋，用以遮风挡雨，存放他寥寥无几的财物。然而有一天，在他搜寻食物归来时，却发现他的小屋陷入火海，浓烟滚滚升空。一切尽失。
他被悲痛与愤怒震惊了，哭喊道：“上帝啊，你怎么能这样对我！”
然而次日清晨，一艘驶近岛屿的船只的声音将他唤醒。船是来救他的。“你们怎么知道我在这里？”疲惫不堪的人问救援者。“我们看到了你的烟雾信号，”他们回答。
当事情变糟时，人很容易气馁。但我们不应灰心，因为即使在痛苦与磨难中，也可能有更大的安排在工作。记住，当你的“小屋”焚毁时，那可能正是召唤恩典的烟雾信号。
对于我们内心的每一个消极念头，都可能存在一个积极的答案。