親愛的弟兄姊妹平安:
約翰遜在7月22日被保守黨黨員選為黨主席, 也順理成章接替了文翠珊成為新一任的英國首相, 沈寂了一陣子的脫歐議題, 又再沸騰, 而10月31日的脫歐死線「Yes, No, or Wait」, 又再一次引發新一輪的辯論。
這個星期讀傳道書, 「我專心用智慧尋求查究天下所做的一切事, 乃知神叫世人所經練的, 是極重的勞苦。」(1:13) 「我又專心察明智慧、狂妄和愚昧, 乃知這也是捕風。因為多有智慧就多有愁煩, 加增知識的就加增憂傷。」(1:17-18) 這是傳道者在耶路撒冷作過以色列王晚年的慨嘆。執政的, 掌權的, 大不易為。使徒保羅晚年時發出呼籲:「我勸你第一要為萬人懇求, 禱告, 代求, 祝謝, 為君王和一切在位的也該如此, 使我們可以敬虔、端正、平安無事地度日。」(提前2:1-2) 坦白地說, 我要很努力去學習這個功課。
這些日子忙碌在後花園, 師母說我種瓜種上癮了! 是的, 我喜歡種瓜, 又喜歡開墾農田, 每天一早一晚的澆水, 樂在其中。掘地搬泥而不覺得疲累, 心中存著盼望, 等候著收成的日子。雖然有些瓜苗在培植過程中相繼死亡, 很是不捨; 但有一些瓜苗堅強不屈地繼續生長, 很是欣慰。土質固然不佳, 又受蟲蟻的傷害, 瓜苗承擔種種的壓力和考驗, 堅毅的生命力勝過一切困難, 茁壯成長。
莎士比亞說過:「黑夜無論怎樣悠長, 白晝總會到來的。」我們樂觀和積極不是寄望時間的定律, 而是信靠創造時間的主宰。
「你趁著年幼, 衰敗的日子尚未來到, 就是你所說『我毫無喜樂』的那些年日未曾臨近之先, 當記念造你的主。」(傳12:1)
彼此互勉!
主內
王 興
2019年7月26日
26th July, 2019
Dear brothers and sisters,
Boris Johnson has been elected as the chairman of the Conservative Party by its members, and has replaced Theresa May as the Prime Minister. Debates regarding the Brexit ” Yes, No, or Wait ” become vigorous again before the deadline on October 31st.
I have been reading the Book of Ecclesiastes this week. ‘I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!’ (1:13) ‘Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.’ (1:17-18) This is the sighing voice of the aging Teacher who was once King of the Israelites in Jerusalem. It’s not easy to be in authority. The aging Apostle Paul urged us, ‘ first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ (1Tim 2:1-2) To be honest, I have to strive for this lesson.
I have been busy in the backyard these days. Cherry says that I am obsessed with planting. Indeed, I like planting. I enjoy digging and watering. I don’t feel tired with this hard work but with hope in my heart, waiting to see the harvest. Though I am sad to see many seedlings die, I am delighted to see some grow bravely despite the poor soil and the attacks from insects. They overcome all kinds of pressure and tests and difficulties and grow sturdily.
Shakespeare said, ‘No matter how long the night, the day will come.’ We can be optimistic and positive not because of the law of the time, but because we put our trust in the Lord who creates time.
‘Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” ‘ (Eccl 12:1)
Let us encourage each other!
In Him,
Sam Wong