創新與懷疑
By: Robert D. Foster
在二十世紀中最受人尊敬的政治領袖之一是印度的甘地（1869-1948）。他曾說一段偉大的話：
「首先他們忽視你。然後他們嘲笑你。接著他們打擊你。最後你得勝了！」
我一直喜歡大思想家、有名的發明家、英雄型的運動員和勇敢的探險家的故事。不論男女、老少、少數民族或多數民族，他們都是普通的人，但他們有創新的本能，用他們的天份和「驅策力」使他們的夢想實現。以下是我喜愛的三個故事：
「老天，外頭真冷！」這是1873年13歲的契思特．葛林伍茲在一個十二月的冰冷天氣裡心中所想到的。為了在溜冰時能保護他的耳朵，伽思特找到兩條鐵絲，把兩端加上襯墊，再用一條繩子把它們綁起來。他的朋友都嘲笑他，然後進屋去溫暖他們凍僵的耳垂，但他仍然繼續溜冰。在17歲契思特就申請到專利，而且在接下來的60年他的工廠都生產「禦寒耳罩」。他的創意使他成為富翁。
FRISBEE以前並不是用來指我們常在公園看到大家互相丟擲的塑膠飛盤。比爾．浮銳斯畢（Bill Frisbie）擁有位於美國康乃迪克州橋港市的浮銳斯畢派餅公司。他們公司的派餅都是用直徑10吋、邊緣高起、底部有六個小洞的寬邊圓形錫盤烤製。丟接這些錫盤變成當地一個普遍的運動，但問題是那些錫盤若沒被接到就變得很危險。鄰居因為窗戶被打破而生氣。有一個媽媽看到兒子的手被錫盤嚴重割傷而哭泣。1940年代開始有了塑膠材料，今天FRISBEE是一個大型玩具公司的註冊商標。飛盤的起源竟是丟擲派餅的錫盤。
第三個我喜愛的故事是有關一個有創造力的人卻受到許多懷疑。這人出現在聖經新約的前四卷書，那都是耶穌基督的故事。在第一世紀中許多宗教領袖忽視祂，政治領袖嘲弄並責罵祂。在祂工作三年後，他們開始積極打擊祂。這樣的敵對最後導致祂的死亡－－用十字架釘死。
然而，歷史告訴我們，那並不是耶穌的結局。在讀「黑天鵝」這本被高度讚賞的書時，我們發現不可能發生的事發生了：耶穌基督從死裡復活。
剛開始批評他的人忽視祂，然後嘲笑祂，最後打擊祂。但結局証實了甘地在約兩千年後說的話，耶穌得勝了！
那些跟隨耶穌基督的人－－不論在職場、在家中和在崇拜之處的人必須了解，我們也要面對嘲弄、懷疑，甚至敵意。但我們可在希伯來書12章3節發現這個保證：「那忍受罪人這樣頂撞的，你們要思想，免得疲倦灰心」。
我們也有這個應許：「所以，我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多作主工；因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裡面不是徒然的」（哥林多前書15章58節）。
本文改編自「挑戰The Challenge」，這是由羅勃和瑞克．符思特所寫和出版的。他們不收費，並鼓勵人們複製，只要註明出處即可。若有任何問題或評論，請寫信到29555 Goose Creek Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135, U.S.A.或傳真 (303) 647-2315。
思想 / 討論題目
有一個「專家」宣稱全世界所需要的電腦數量不會超過八台。有人嘲笑想要發明「不用馬拉的車」。你可以想到其他有願景和創造力卻面對極大懷疑的例子嗎？ 想想你自己經驗中的一個情況，當一個創新的想法遭遇極大的嘲弄，但最後卻實現的經驗。可能有一次你有一個建議，但卻沒人認真看待－－直到你的建議顯示出成果並得到證實。當時你會有何感覺？ 你是否在尋求把信仰與每天的工作結合在一起，卻受到挑戰或反對？你如何回應？ 你覺得我們可以從耶穌基督回應別人的反對中學到什麼？而那與我們自己的情況有何關係？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
羅馬書5章3-5節；腓立比書3章12-14節；提摩太後書3章10-14節；雅各書1章2-4節；彼得前書1章6-9節
CREATIVITY – AND SKEPTICISM
By: Robert D. Foster
One of the most respected political leaders in the world during the 20th century was India’s Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). One of his great quotes:
"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you. Then you win!"
I have always enjoyed the stories of great thinkers, famous inventors, hero athletes and daring explorers. Male or female, young or old, minority or majority, these all were ordinary people that followed their creative instincts, using their talents and "drive" to make their dreams come true. Here are three of my favorites:
"Baby, It’s Cold Outside," might have been a song running through 13-year-old Chester Greenwood’ s head one cold December day in 1873. To protect his ears while ice skating, Chester found two pieces of wire, padded the ends, and tied them together with strings. His friends laughed, but he was still skating while they had gone inside to warm up their frozen earlobes. At the age of 17, Chester applied for a patent and over the next 60 years his factory manufactured “earmuffs,” his idea turning him into a wealthy man.
The term FRISBEE did not always refer to the familiar plastic disks we often see flying through the air in public parks. Bill Frisbie owned the Frisbie Pie Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut in the U.S.A. All of his company”s pies were baked in the same type of 10-inch, round tin with a raised edge, wide brim and six small holes in the bottom. Throwing and catching these pie tins became a popular local sport but there was a problem – the tins could become dangerous when they were not caught. Neighbors got mad when windows were broken, and one mother cried when her son”s hand was cut severely. In the 1940s, the material we know as plastic emerged and today FRISBEE is a registered trademark of a major toy company. It owed its start to flying pie tins.
My third favorite story of a creative person who met with much skepticism is found in the first four books of the Bible”s New Testament. It is the story of Jesus Christ, a man in the fist century whom religious leaders tried to ignore, while the political leaders ridiculed and scorned him. At the end of three years, they starting actively fighting him; this opposition resulted in his death – by crucifixion.
That, as history tells us, was not the end of Jesus, however. In reading the highly acclaimed book, Black Swan, we discover the improbable and impossible happened: Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
His critics first ignored Him, then laughed at Him, and finally fought Him. But in the end, validating the statement Gandhi would make nearly 2,000 years later, Jesus won!
Those who follow Jesus Christ – in the workplace, as well as our homes and places of worship – must understand that we, too, might face ridicule, skepticism, even hostility. We find this assurance in Hebrews 12:3 – “Consider him (Jesus) who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
We also have this promise: “Therefore, my brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Taken and adapted from The Challenge, written and published by Robert D. and Rick Foster. Permission to reproduce with proper credit is freely given and encouraged. For questions or comments, write: 29555 Goose Creek Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135, U.S.A., or fax (303) 647-2315.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
An “expert” once declared the number of computers needed in the world would never total more than eight. Others laughed at the idea of inventing a “horseless carriage.” Can you think of other instances when people of vision and creativity faced great skepticism? Think of a circumstance in your own experience when a novel idea encountered great ridicule, yet eventually was birthed to reality. How did you feel about that situation, perhaps a time when you had a suggestion that no one would take seriously – until it could be demonstrated and confirmed? Have you ever felt challenged or opposed in seeking to integrate your faith with everyday demands of work? What has been your response? What do you think we can learn from how Jesus Christ responded to opposition – and how can we relate that to our own circumstances?If you would like to consider other Bible passages that relate to this topic, look up the following:
Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:12-14; 2 Timothy 3:10-14; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9
