Manna issue 78 - Editorial 編輯的話
by Marian Shek
In the blink of an eye, another new year is upon us. At this point, we will usually look back and reflect on what we
have achieved over the past year. Some will be satisfied that they have made the most of their time, while others will be
disappointed that they did not reach their desired goals. Sadly, our personal ambitions often become buried under the
more mundane dealings of life—and this is especially true of our spiritual ambitions.
一眨眼之間，另一個新年已經來到了。
在這個時刻，我們通常會回頭看看，反省我們已經在過去一年中，所完成的事情。
有一些人會很滿意，因為他們已川有好好利用自已的時間。
然而另一些人可能會很失望，因為他們沒有完成心裡所想要的目標。
可悲的是，我們個人的野心，常會因為更多在生活事世俗的雜務裡，而變成一文不值 -
我們在屬靈上的企圖和計劃，更是特別如此。
Many will recognize the feeling that time is always against them, whether they are a student working to deadline, a
professional juggling multiple projects, or a parent managing a chaotic household. It can often seem like there are not
enough hours in a day. As Christians, we also have the duty to cultivate our spirituality and serve the Lord. But when
our time and energy are limited, our faithfulness and service towards God are usually the first to suffer. After all, we
think we can always draw closer to God later on, when we have more time. But is this really the case?
許多人會認知到一種感覺，就是時間總是和他們作對，
不論是身為一個學生，需要有最後期限之前完成工作，
或是職場中，需要在許多工作企劃中，不斷打混，
或是身為父母需要好好管理自已混亂的家務。
常常看起來就像是一天中，都沒有足夠的時間。
身為基督徒，我們也有責任來好好培養自已的屬靈生命，並且服事主。
但是我們的時間和精力是有限的，而常常我們對神的信心和服事工作，是第一個受到犧牲的。
畢竟，我們會想，當有更多時間的時候，後來總是可以再來親近神。
但是，這真的可能嗎？
In fact, in this age of hyper-connectedness, any spare time that we have is easily filled with work tasks or mindless
distractions. We never quite get round to devoting quality time to God. It, therefore, requires a conscious effort to set
aside time for daily spiritual cultivation, to schedule our holidays around church commitments, such that church work
always comes first, and to allocate top priority for God in our packed lives.
事實上，在這個超連結的時代，我們所有的任何空檔時間，都很容易被工作或是胡思亂想所填滿。
我們從來沒有抽出時間來，把精華的時間獻給神。
所以，需要下定決心把時段空下來，每天作靈修，依照各種教會的責任來安排自已的時間，
例如，教會工作總是排第一，在我們滿滿忙碌的生活中，總是把時間留給神，讓祂最先來用。
We may think that we can make time for God if we had better time management and multitasking skills. This is true
to a certain extent, but this perspective defines God’s work as just another task to tick off the ‘to-do’ list, to be done as
quickly as possible, or left till last with the rest of the non-urgent items.
我們或許會想，自已可以空出時間給神，若是我們有好的時間管理，或是同時處理各項工作的技能。
某種程度來說，這是有用的，但是這種觀點，只是把神的工作看作是另一項任務而已，變成一件"該作的事項"的清單，
讓我們儘快把它作完，或是留到最後，和一些其他不急的事情一起來作。
The writers in this issue of Manna offer a different view—instead of making time for God as part of a good worklife
balance, God should be our primary commitment, and all other areas that require our time and energy should
revolve around this commitment. Whatever we choose to do is entirely driven by God.
本期嗎哪的作者們，提供了不同的觀點 - 不是空出時間給神，就好像是一種工作與生活平衡的一部份而已，
神必需是我們最主要的責任，其他的事情若是需要我們的時間和精力去完成，就只能依照著我們對神的責任完成之後，再接著安排。
無論我們選擇要作什麼事情，都是完全由神來指引。
As God has given us a limited time on earth, we should redeem it wisely—not spending it in pursuit of worldly success
and that which will fade away, but in pursuit of God’s will, laying up treasures in heaven (Eph 5:15–16; Mt 6:19–21).
God allows us to choose how we spend our time, but at every moment, He should not be too far from our thoughts:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these
words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall
talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deut
6:5–7)
神在世上給我們有限的時間，我們應該要善用它 - 不要只用時間來追求世上的成功，和那裡會逐漸毀壞的事，
而是專心追求神的旨意，堆積財寶在天上才對。(弗 5：15-16；太 6：19-21)
神讓我們來選擇如何使用時間，但是在每一個當下，祂不應該遠離我們的心思：
5你要盡心、盡性、盡力愛耶和華─你的神。
6我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，
7也要殷勤教訓你的兒女。無論你坐在家裡，行在路上，躺下，起來，都要談論。
(申 6：5-7)
If God is the center of our lives, then His will reaches into and illuminates every part of our lives. The struggling
student will find the strength to complete his work through daily prayer; harried parents will find the patience and
wisdom to raise their children by studying the word of God; and the professional will find that using his skills to
support church work is no longer a burden and sacrifice, but a rich source of blessing and an essential part of his life.
若神是我們生活的中心，那麼祂的旨意就會觸及，並且照亮我們生活的每一個部份。
努力的學生就會透過禱告找到力量，來完成工作；
藉由學習神的話語，煩擾的父母就會得到耐心和智慧來扶養自已的小孩；
有專業職能的人，就會發現使用自已技能來扶持教會工作，不再是一種負擔和犧牲，
而是一個非常豐富的祝福，並且是人生命中最基本的部份。
We need to grasp every opportunity to serve the Lord and draw closer to Him, while there is still time. So whatever
our resolutions for the coming year, let us resolve to make more time for God.
當我們還有時間的時候，需要抓住每一個機會來服事主，更加靠近祂。
所以無論我們為了新來到的一年，下了什麼樣子的決心，讓我們決心為主空出更多的時間。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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