Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler

PART 1 Expressions

1. But there is nothing generic about a human life.

generic: 1. shared by, including or typical of a whole group of things, not specific 通用的；一般的

generic term/ name (for sth) 通称

Fine Arts is a generic term for subjects such as painting, music, and sculpture.

2. （尤指药品）无厂家商标的

generic drugs

2. "Yes," I say, scooping him into my arms.

scoop: 之前比较熟悉的是它的名词含义，大的勺子，最新内幕消息

这里的scoop是动词，意为 to move or lift sb/ sth with a quick continuous movement （敏捷地）抱起，拿起

例句中的那句话也可以标注出 I scooped the child up in my arms.

3. The fourteen-year-old gil I knew at St. Mary's Academy combined their sympathy with Jesus at his grisly crucifixion with a spring break weight-loss program.

grisly: 可怕的；令人厌恶的 extremely unpleasant and involving people being killed or injured （注：grisly 是形容词而非副词）

crucifixion：[ˌkru:səˈfɪkʃn]（耶稣）被钉在十字架上

crucifix:  [ˈkru:səfɪks] (n.) 十字架

crucify: (v.) 十字架上钉死；折磨；严厉批评

The prime minister was crucified in the press for his handling of the affair.

crux: [krʌks]  the most important or difficult part of a problem or an issue （难题或问题的）关键；最难点；症结

Now we come to the crux of the matter.

a crucifix

4. One lady who answered the phone baldly told me that she had no idea what I was talking about when I said “Good Friday.” 

baldly: (ad.) in a few words with nothing extra or unnecessary 直截了当地；不加赘述地

"You're lying," he said baldly.

5. By the umpteenth greeting, “Happy Good Friday!” seemed like the order of the day. 

umpteenth: [ˌʌmp'ti:nθ]  无数个（口语，有贬义含义）very many, used especially when you are annoyed there are many. 该词只能放在名词前 eg. for the umpteenth time

更为常见的是 umpteen

There seemed to be umpteen rules and regulations to learn.

She'd called the apartment umpteen times, but never got an answer.

6. “Isn’t it great we serve a risen Lord!” she asked rhetorically.

rhetorical:  [rɪˈtɒrɪkl] 这里不是指“辞藻华丽的，修饰性的”， 而是指“反诘的；反问的”

"Don't you care what I do?" he asked, but it was a rhetorical question.

7. The speaker is a gorgeous thirty-something woman with shiny hair and skinny jeans.

学一个表达：三十几岁的人 a thirty-something woman

比较熟悉的一个表达是 a woman in her 30s, 还可以根据更准确的信息说 a woman in her early/ late 30s

8. I am marching toward the edge of a precipice, trusting that, by the time I get there, a bridge will have been built.

precipice: [ˈpresəpɪs] 悬崖；峭壁

The country was now on the edge of a precipice.

类似表达 abyss  [əˈbɪs] 深渊

The country is stepping back from the edge of an abyss.

PART 2 Thoughts

距离开始重新学习英语已经有约两年半的时间了。只要有时间都会每天听一点东西，看一点东西或者写一点东西，就这样在学习英语的道路上一步步前进。经常也会有挫败感的时候，觉得学了那么长时间但每次遇到新的文章还是总会有那么少至一两个多至大半篇幅的不熟悉词汇或词组。而即使是之前做过笔记的单词，也经常会遗忘或混淆。也经常怀疑自己，现在学的东西对以后的工作是否真的有用处。然而，我想，学习英语这件事还是有意义的，即使眼下没有太多的用于之地，但至少它为我的人生种下了更多的潜在机遇。

高中的时候，只要下定决心就能在一个学期甚至半个学期内把一门功课的成绩提升上去甚至拿到优异的成绩，然而如今的我明白了，要真正学好一个东西需要耗费极为漫长的世界和无数的精力、毅力。不要焦躁，给自己一点时间慢慢成长，只要我们继续坚持着，总会有实现蜕变的那一天。