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Your Inner Voice

My day started just like all the other days for the past 15 years where I get up, make some coffee, shower, get dressed and leave for the train station at precisely 7:35 A.M. to arrive at work by 8:30. While on the train I would always choose a seat away from the crowd so I can read the newspaper in peace and

quiet. At work I am always being bombarded with questions from coworkers, suppliers, telephone and then those dreaded meetings, so the last thing I need

I don't know why but for some reason when I got on the train today it was unusually full, something I don't recall ever happening in the past. With hesitation I sat down in the only seat available beside a middle-aged man that had his head down and seemed to be lost in his thoughts. I was glad that he didn't notice when I sat next to him as he just continued to look down towards the floor.

Shortly after the train left for my 30-minute ride downtown I found myself wondering what this man was thinking about. What could be so important that he didn't even see me sit next to him? I tried to forget about it and started to read my paper. However, for some strange reason this inner voice kept prompting me to talk to this man. I tried to ignore the voice as there was no way I was starting a conversation with a complete stranger.

As you probably guessed I eventually broke down and came up with an excuse to ask him a question. When he raised his head and turned his eyes towards me I could see that he must have been really upset as he had red eyes and still had some tears rolling down the side of his face despite his feeble attempt to wipe them away. I can't describe the sadness I felt seeing someone in so much pain.

We talked for about 20 minutes and in the end he seemed to be doing better. As we were leaving the train he thanked me profusely for being an angel by taking the time to talk. I never did find out what was making his heart so heavy with pain but was glad I listened to the voice that day.

Several weeks had passed when I noticed an envelope on my desk after returning from lunch. It was not addressed to anyone and only had the word angel written on it. My receptionist attached a note saying a gentleman dropped it off

saying he did not know my name but had described me well enough that the receptionist knew it was for me. When I read the note inside the envelope I was so filled with emotions that I couldn't contain myself. It was a letter from the man I met on the train thanking me again for talking to him and saving his life that day.

Apparently he had some very hurtful personal problems that were so overwhelming that he was planning to take his life that day. In his letter he went on to explain that he was a religious person and in desperation screamed out to God that if God really cared about him he would send someone to prevent him from taking his life. In his eyes I was that someone, that Angel sent by God.

Not being a religious person myself I don't know what that voice was that made me take a chance and talk to a stranger but I do know that it made a difference in someone's life that day. So the next time you feel prompted for no apparent reason to talk to a friend, relative, neighbor or even a complete stranger please remember my story, you just may make a difference in someone's life when you listen to your inner voice.

参考翻译：

你的心声

在过去的15年里，我每日都以相同的方式开始一天的生活，起床，烧咖啡，洗澡，穿衣服,然后早上7点35分准时出门去火车站，8点30到上班地点。当我上了火车，我通常选个远离人群的座位,这样我就可以安静地读报纸。工作中，我要无休止地应对同事、供应商提出的各种问题,电话总是响个不停,还有那些令人恐惧的会议，所以我最不想做的事就是和坐在身边的陌生人闲聊。

我不知道是什么原因，那天火车上异常的拥挤，我印象中这种情况过去从没发生过。我有些犹豫地坐在了一个中年男人旁仅有的一个空座。那个男人低着头,像是陷入了沉思。我很高兴当我在他身旁坐下时他没有注意到我，因为他依然低头看着地板。

很快火车开了,30分钟后驶入市区，我发现我自己开始好奇那个男人在思考什么。是什么事情如此重要以至于他根本没有看到我在他身边坐下?我想试图忘记这个事，所以开始看我的报纸。然而,出于某种奇怪的原因，这个心理暗示一直不断促使我和他讲话。我努力不去理会这个念头，因为没有什么办法能让我和这个完全陌生的人开始聊起来。

你可能已经猜到了,最终我打破僵局，找到一个借口问了他一个问题。当他抬起头，眼睛向我看过来时，我可以看出他的内心肯定是非常难过的，因为他两眼通红，而且尽管他曾试图去擦掉眼泪，可脸颊上还是挂着滚下的泪珠。我无法形容当看到某人如此痛苦时，自己是如何的悲伤。

我们聊了20来分钟，最后他看起来好多了。当我们下车时,他对我连声道谢，感谢我像一个天使一样陪他说了这么长时间话。我一直不知道到底是什么原因让他内心如此沉重，但是我很高兴那天我听从了自己的心声几周过去了,一天午饭回来,我注意到我桌子上有一个信封。它没有写收信人的姓名，只写着一个单词“天使”。我的接待员附上了一个便条，说是一位绅士留下的信，那位绅士不知道我的名字,但从他细致地描述可知是留给我的信。当我打开信封，读着信封里的便笺，我激动得不能自己。这正是我火车上碰见的那位男士写给我的信。他再一次感谢我那天和他谈话并救了他一条命。

很显然他遇到了一些伤感的个人问题。他如此痛苦以至于那天打算自杀。在他的信里,他继续解释道他是一个信教徒,在绝望中，他大声呼唤上帝,如果上帝真的关心他,就会派一位天使来阻止他自杀。在他眼里,我就是上帝派来的那位天使。

我自己并不信教，我不知道当时为何会有冒险和陌生人讲话的念头，但是我确定这使得某个人的生活在那天发生了改变。因此,当下次你感觉无缘无故地想和一个朋友、亲戚、邻居或者甚至是一个陌生人讲话的时候，请记得我的故事。当你听从了你的心声,你可能就此改变了某个人的生活。