13. Manna issue 62 - Homeland Bound - Redirecting Life's Path Post Middle-Age 連接故鄉－中年後轉換人生之路
Sarah Lin—Chicago, Illinois, USA 美國伊利諾芝加哥
With my children grown up and no longer in need of immediate parental care,
I find myself having more free time to spare.
This stage of life has often been termed the “empty nest” stage.
But an empty nest does not mean an empty life,
and I have found that it is a golden time for personal reflection and growth.
隨著自已的孩子長大，不再需要父母的即時照顧，
我發現自己有更多空閒的時間。
人生的這個階段通常被稱為「空巢」階段。
但是空巢並不是代表著空虛的生活，
我發現，這是個人反省和成長的黃金時期。
As I get older, losing people close to me makes the fragility of life a reality,
inevitably leading me to reflect upon my faith journey.
My uncle has five sons, three of whom have already passed away.
And ever since I learned that my elderly mother fainted at church during Sabbath service,
I started my annual trips to visit her in Taiwan.
隨著年齡的增長，失去親近的人讓生命的脆弱成為現實，
不可避免的讓我反思自已的信仰之旅。
我叔叔有五個兒子，其中三個已經過世了。
自從我得知，年邁的母親在教會安息日聚會暈倒後，
我開始每年去台灣探望她。
For myself, my doctor informed me that I had high levels of bad cholesterol
and advised me to change my diet and exercise more.
With these warnings, I am reminded to also do a “health checkup” of my spiritual life.
就我自己而言，我的醫生告訴我，我的壞膽固醇水平很高
並建議我改變飲食習慣，並且多多運動。
有了這些警告，提醒我也要給自己的靈命進行一次“健康檢查”。
As I pass middle age and head towards old age,
I realize the need to refocus my life, especially after my children have grown up.
It is not merely the time to prepare for a smooth transition into old age
—it is the time to prepare for life in eternity.
當我過了中年，邁向老年之時，
我意識到，需要重新調整自已的生活，尤其是我的孩子已經長大之後。
這不僅僅是為了準備順利過渡到老年，
—現在亦是為永生做準備的時候了。
WALKING WITH GOD 與神同行
For bodily exercise profits a little,
but godliness is profitable for all things,
having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
(1 Tim 4:8, 9)
8操練身體，益處還少；
惟獨敬虔，凡事都有益處，
因有今生和來生的應許。
9這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。
（提前 4：8，9）
With the additional spare time I have gained,
I started to take better care of my physical and spiritual health.
I added regular workouts to my routine because of my high cholesterol.
I find that I’m more apt to stick with a regular exercise program
when I combine spiritual cultivation and physical exercise.
Gaining spiritual nutrition provides the motivation
to persist with my exercise routine,
and the benefits I actually reap far outweigh those of the physical exercise alone.
憑藉我得到額外的空閒時間，
我開始好好的照顧自己肉體和屬靈的健康。
由於高膽固醇，我在日常習慣中增加了定期的運動。
我發現，自已更傾向堅持定期的運動計劃，
當我把靈修和身體鍛鍊結合起來的時候。
得到屬靈的養份提供了動力，
可以堅持自已的運動習慣，
而我實際獲得的好處，遠遠超過了單純的體能訓練。
I enjoy walking for forty-five to sixty minutes most days of the week.
Walking can be dull, but listening to sermons during my walks counteracts the tedium.
Meditation on the sermon also makes time fly.
Reading articles in Holy Spirit Monthly or Manna
when using exercise equipment also takes my mind off the exercise.
我一周中大部分的時間，都喜歡步行 45 到 60 分鐘。
步行可能很無聊，但是散步時聽講道可以抵消這種沉悶單調。
思考講道內容也能讓時間過得很快。
閱讀聖靈月刊和嗎哪雜誌的文章，
在使用健身器材時，也會讓我的注意力從運動轉移。
I feel as if God talks to me as I work out.
Through the sermons I listen to and the articles I read,
I am often amazed at how quick and responsive God is in answering my questions, issues, and needs
communicated in prayer.
My daily walks around the neighborhood are like walking with God in the garden
—a quiet and sweet hour with Him.
我感覺就好像是神，在我運動時對我說話。
透過我聽的講道和閱讀的文章，
我常常驚奇，神很快回應我的問題、困難和需求，
是我透過禱告所傳達的。
我每天在附近散步，就像在花園與神同行，
—與祂一起度過安靜而甜蜜的時光。
PREPARING FOR THE END OF THE RACE 準備賽場的終局
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Heb 12:1, 2)
1我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們，
就當放下各樣的重擔，
脫去容易纏累我們的罪，
存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，
2仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌（或作：仰望那將真道創始成終的耶穌）。
他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，
忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。
（來 12：1，2）
As my children have grown up, I have found more time for reflection.
This is a good time to also evaluate my spiritual life and faith.
A Christian’s goal is to finish the race and meet God face to face.
As I move nearer to the end,
I reflect more and more on whether I am ready to meet God.
隨著孩子的長大，我有了更多的時間反思。
這也是衡量我的靈命和信心的好時機。
基督徒的目標是跑完賽程，並且親自看見神。
當我更接近終點的時候，
我更加反省自己有沒有準備好迎見神。
For years, I went to church regularly and participated in many areas of church work.
However, the motivation behind my participation varied
from obligation, maintaining my reputation, to proving myself to others.
多年來，我經常去教會，參與教會許多方面的工作。
然而，我參與的背後動機有很多的不同，
出自責任感，維護自已的聲譽，向別人證明自己。
Serving the Lord became a burden and lost its meaning
because I served for the wrong motives.
I have come to realize that even worshipping God
through heartfelt hymn singing, praying, and attending services is serving Him.
事奉主成了負擔，而失去了意義，
因為我服事的動機是錯的。
我開始才明白，即使是敬拜神，
透過衷心的詩頌、祈禱和參加聚會，都是服事祂。
I do not need to do great things, prove myself through holy work,
or maintain a position on the church council.
Now I enjoy serving my Lord in whatever capacity I can,
just as described by the hymn, “Something for Thee.”
我不需要做大事，透過聖工來證明自己，
或在教會職務會保有席位。
現在享受盡我所能的事奉我主，
正如讚美詩“奉獻與你”的描述。
Furthermore, I want to serve Him in areas
that I had previously considered to be my weaknesses
and beyond my abilities to perform.
I pray that
“the power of Christ may rest upon [me]”
(2 Cor 12:9).
Nowadays, when I serve in church,
I recognize that people’s opinion of me should not be the motivating force.
Instead, I do my best to bring glory to God’s name and to edify people around me.
此外，我想在一些方面服事祂，
我以前認為是自已的弱點，
並且超出了自已執行的能力。
我禱告
“基督的能力可以臨在[我]身上”
（林後 12：9）。
如今，當我在教會服事之時，
我認識到，人們對我的看法不應該成為動力。
相反的，我要盡最大力量榮耀神的名，並且造就自已周圍的人。
At this stage of life, what I need to focus on is to pursue a closer relationship with God,
as I long to meet Him face to face for eternity in the heavenly homeland.
在人生的這個階段，我需要注重追求與神更親密的關係，
因為我渴望天國與祂永遠見面得永生。
CONTINUING A HERITAGE OF FAITH 延續信仰的傳承
That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments.
(Ps 78:6, 7)
6使將要生的後代子孫可以曉得；
他們也要起來告訴他們的子孫，
7好叫他們仰望神，
不忘記神的作為，
惟要守他的命令。
（詩 78：6，7）
Although my children are adults,
I still hope to be a source of guidance and support for them,
especially in their walk of faith.
Paul reminded Timothy that his faith was modeled after his grandmother and mother
(2 Tim 1:5).
I recall that my mother often told us the testimonies of my grandmother,
passing on great examples of faith to me.
雖然我的孩子都已成年了，
我還是盼望能夠成為他們指導與支持的源頭，
尤其是在他們的信仰旅程上。
保羅提醒提摩太，他的信仰是效法他祖母和母親的
（提後 1：5）。
記得，媽媽常常告訴我們奶奶的見證，
傳遞偉大的信仰榜樣給我們。
My children now need to strengthen their own faith and relationship with God.
As much as I would like to, I cannot run the race for them.
But I continue to pray for them,
asking for God to guide them and sustain their faith.
現在我子女需要加強自己的信仰，以及與神的關係。
儘管我很希望這樣作，但我卻無法為他們進行比賽。
但我仍繼續為他們禱告，
祈求神引導他們，並保守他們的信仰。
My daughter is currently in college
and has been actively participating in church work and her campus fellowship.
It is a pleasure to see her grow in faith.
I enjoy discussing the Bible with her
and strengthening our bond and friendship along the way.
我女兒目前正上大學，
並且一直積極參與教會工作和校園團契。
很高興可以看到她的信心不斷成長。
我很喜歡和她討論聖經，
在此過程中加強我們的聯繫和情誼。
I also write down my own testimonies in the hope that
my children will read them and pass them onto the next generation
as part of their heritage of faith.
My brother built a Chinese website that contains many testimonies from our extended family.
His intention is to leave a “cloud of witnesses”
(Heb 12:1)
for our family members and descendants.
我也寫下自己的見證，並且希望，
孩子會閱讀它們，並將其傳遞給下一代，
作為他們信仰傳承的一部分。
我兄弟設了一個中文網站，其中包含了我們大家庭的許多見證。
他的目的就是，留下“如同雲彩的見證人”
（來 12：1）
為了我們的家人和後代。
I hope that my husband and I
have set good examples for our children to follow as our parents did for us.
Then, one day, we shall all meet together in our eternal heavenly home.
我希望自已的丈夫和我
已經為子女樹立了良好的榜樣，就像我們父母為我們所做的那樣。
然後，有一天，我們全部將可以在永生天家相聚。
RECONNECTING AS HEIRS TOGETHER OF THE GRACE OF LIFE 重新一起成為生命恩典的繼承者
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life
which He has given you under the sun,
all your days of vanity;
for that is your portion in life,
and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
(Eccl 9:9)
9在你一生虛空的年日，
就是神賜你在日光之下虛空的年日，
當同你所愛的妻，快活度日，
因為那是你生前在日光之下勞碌的事上所得的分。
（傳 9:：9）
In the process of raising children and sustaining a livelihood,
years can simply fly by.
As I once read,
“The days are long but the years are short.”
When our children still lived at home,
my husband and I devoted much time to them
and consequently had less time for each other.
在養育子女、維持生計的過程中，
歲月匆匆而過。
正如我曾經讀過的那樣：
“漫長時日，但歲月短瞬即過。”
當我們的孩子還住在家裡的時候，
我和先生在他們身上投入了很多時間，
因此彼此相處的時間很少。
With the children now grown up,
it’s time for us to rekindle our love and pay more attention to each other.
Marriage in the Lord is a bond between two people
who should be sharing the grace of life blessed by God:
“Husbands, likewise, dwell with [your wives] with understanding,
giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of life”
(1 Pet 3:7).
現在孩子都長大了，
是時候讓我們重燃愛火，更加關心彼此了。
在主裡的婚姻是兩人之間的連結，
他們應該可以分享神所祝福的生命之恩：
“7你們作丈夫的，也要按情理（原文是知識）和妻子同住；
因他比你軟弱（比你軟弱：原文作是軟弱的器皿），
與你一同承受生命之恩的，所以要敬重他。”
（彼前 3：7）。
God has blessed me with a good husband.
We both held full-time jobs when raising our children,
and he shared the workload of household chores and childcare without a murmur.
These days, we enjoy each other’s company by taking walks together,
going to the fitness center,
or just doing grocery shopping.
It is a blessing to have him as my constant companion
now that our children have left the house.
神已經賜給我一位好丈夫。
我們一邊撫養子女，一邊全職工作，
他毫無怨言的分擔家務和照顧孩子的負荷。
這些日子以來，我們一起散步，享受彼此的陪伴，
去健身中心，
或只是去採購日用品。
有他作為我忠誠的伴侶，真是一種福氣，
現在我們的孩子已經都離家了。
My husband and I have been complementary partners in serving the Lord over the years.
We will continue running our race together as heirs of the grace of life.
For this, I really thank God.
多年來，我和先生在服事主的方面，一直都是互補的同伴。
身為生命之恩的繼承者，我們會繼續一起奔跑。
為此，我真的很感謝上帝。
ON THE WAY HOME 在回家的路上
“In My Father’s house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.
And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
(Jn 14:2-4)
“2在我父的家裡有許多住處；
若是沒有，我就早已告訴你們了。
我去原是為你們預備地方去。
3我若去為你們預備了地方，
就必再來接你們到我那裡去，
我在那裡，叫你們也在那裡。
4我往那裡去，你們知道；那條路，你們也知道
（有古卷作：我往那裡去，你們知道那條路）。”
（約 14:2-4）
With children no longer at home,
it is easier for me to travel.
In recent years, whenever I go back to my native Taiwan,
I relate more closely to the Chinese aphorism,
“Falling leaves return to their roots.”
Even though the roots may have grown so differently from when I left,
such feelings of nostalgia bring out the goal of the heavenly home ever so poignantly.
因為孩子不在家了，
我要旅行就比較容易。
最近幾年，每當我回到祖國台灣時，
我緊密涉及更多中國的格言，
“落葉歸根。”
即使根的發展情況可能與我離開時大不相同，
這種懷舊之情更如此深刻的帶出了天家的目標。
The chorus of the hymn “Mid Pleasures and Palaces” says,
“Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home!”
Similarly, the lyrics of the hymn “When We All Get to Heaven” remind us that
“[i]n the mansions bright and blessed,
He’ll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!”
讚美詩《歸家/居住繁華宮殿》的副歌：
“家，家，甜蜜，甜蜜的家！
無論有多麼簡陋，沒有一個地方像家一樣！”
同樣的，讚美詩的歌詞“歌頌主恩-我們都要回天家”提醒我們：
“在那光明榮耀福地，
主備安宅要再來。
我們都要回天家，
今思想那日樂無涯！”
As I am discovering,
it is especially important for empty nesters
to constantly think about returning to our heavenly home.
While there are many responsibilities that we still take care of
and much of life to still enjoy,
it is important to draw closer to God as we near the end of the race.
據我發現，
對於空巢老人而言尤其重要，
要不斷思想回到自已天上家鄉。
雖然有很多的責任我們需要關心，
而且仍可追求很多生活樂趣，
當我們接近比賽終點時，更親近神是很重要的。
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(Jude 20, 21)
20親愛的弟兄阿，你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己，
在聖靈裡禱告，
21保守自己常在神的愛中，
仰望我們主耶穌基督的憐憫，直到永生。
（猶 20，21）
If we can follow this teaching closely,
we can be assured that we are heading back to our heavenly home.
如果我們能夠緊隨這個教導，
我們就可以放心，自已正在回歸我們的天家。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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