持續工作或安靜等待
By Ken Korkow
在我成長的過程中，我的母親經常對我說：「只要善用等待的時間拼命地努力，所有等待中的美好事物都會發生。」
的確，我的父母親特質是既專注也很有動力。他們在經濟大蕭條的年代倖存下來，並且不希望家裡任何人經歷這些。也因此，教導我們努力工作的價值和美德 ，甚至不惜犧牲其他事物作為代價。
記得小時候我常常想：「長大後，我不想像我父親一樣。」但是，現在的我變得和他一模一樣，不僅是努力工作而且充滿動力，專注於完成任務並獲得隨之而來的回報。如同諺語所說的：「蘋果下落，離樹不遠(意指有其父必有其子)」。我的生活模仿了我的父親，經常聽到有人說：「你就像你的父親一樣。」
雖然我繼承了許多來自己父母積極的特質，也從他們那裡得到很好的教導，當然也很欣賞這些特質。但是，隨著年紀增長，我卻學會了更少依靠自己肉體的力量，更多以自己的真實身份，依照神給我的目標和方式來生活。
思想考門夫人在她的經典日常靈修書「荒漠甘泉(10月28日)」所說的：
「一个安静的靈，對於外面的活動是非常有幫助的；反言之，没有一件東西，比靈里的焦急掛慮，更妨礙屬靈的能力和成功。一位屬靈的信徒有一次告訴我們，「知道怎樣信靠，怎樣安静，就是得到了一切」。這句話是非常有意思的。我們如果知道這個，我們工作的方法就會大大改變了。我們不會再不停挣扎了；我们會安安静靜在主面前，讓聖靈去替我們完成我們所希望的。」
當然，這樣的觀點和我們必須承擔緊迫的日常工作責任和信念背道而馳，畢竟這樣的信念支配著我們許多人。然而，經驗告訴我，儘管我們周圍可能出現混亂，但堅定不移地努力培養安靜的精神並練習安靜也會帶來很大的好處。以下是我從聖經中學到並應用的幾條原則：
願意放慢速度，等待上帝，而不是一直去做。在快節奏、高壓力的世界中，走下跑步機並相信上帝會引導我們並解決我們可能面臨的困難和挑戰需要很大的決心。這需要信心，但我相信主永遠不會讓我失望。「你們要休息，要知道我是 神！我必在外邦中被尊崇，在遍地上也被尊崇。」（詩篇46篇10節）。
在放慢速度的同時，可以向上帝表達我們的憂慮。對於在職場中的許多人來說，擔憂和焦慮是不變的伴侶，雖然它們常帶來反效果：越擔心，完成的事情就越少。另一方面，禱告可以完成比我們想像的更多的事情。「應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴 神。」（腓立比書4章6節）。
聖經教導我們要工作，努力地工作。但也教導我們有時候等待、靜止更好，並留心查看上帝的作為。
Ken Korkow住在美國的內布拉斯加州歐馬哈市，是當地CBMC的會長。這篇文章經授權，節錄自他的所寫的「生命傳真」專欄。
反省與問題討論
你是否贊同這樣的說法：「只要人用等待的時間拼命地努力，所有等待的美好事物都會發生。」解釋你的答案。 為什麼等待這麼困難？特別是當我們需要完成一件事並趕上最後期限，或者在工作中有急迫問題必須回答時？ 考門夫人的文章說：「安靜有巨大的力量」，你相信嗎？請解釋你的答案？如果是，這是甚麼力量？ 你能想到一個經驗是，當你內心都尖叫著你必須繼續工作時，儘管不情願，你仍然決定安靜下來並選擇等待，當時的結果是什麼？
注意：如果你手上有聖經並希望閱讀更多跟這個主題相關的信息，請考慮以下的經文：(因經文較長，考慮到篇幅和新舊約經文，您可以參閱下列未列出的經文:箴言6:3、9節；箴言21:21；馬太福音7:7-12)
詩篇37篇4-7節
37:4 又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。
37:5 當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。
37:6 他要使你的公義如光發出，使你的公平明如正午。
37:7 你當默然倚靠耶和華，耐性等候他；不要因那道路通達的和那惡謀成就的心懷不平。
箴言3章5-6節
3:5 你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，
3:6 在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。
箴言19章21節
19:21 人心多有計謀；惟有耶和華的籌算才能立定。
箴言21章30節
21:30 沒有人能以智慧、聰明、謀略敵擋耶和華。
馬太福音6章25-34節
6:25 「所以我告訴你們，不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼，喝甚麼；為身體憂慮穿甚麼。生命不勝於飲食嗎？身體不勝於衣裳嗎？
6:26 你們看那天上的飛鳥，也不種，也不收，也不積蓄在倉裏，你們的天父尚且養活牠。你們不比飛鳥貴重得多嗎？
6:27 你們哪一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢（或譯：使身量多加一肘呢）？
6:28 何必為衣裳憂慮呢？你想野地裏的百合花怎麼長起來；它也不勞苦，也不紡線。
6:29 然而我告訴你們，就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的，還不如這花一朵呢！
6:30 你們這小信的人哪！野地裏的草今天還在，明天就丟在爐裏，神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢!
6:31 所以，不要憂慮說，吃甚麼？喝甚麼？穿甚麼？
6:32 這都是外邦人所求的，你們需用的這一切東西，你們的天父是知道的。
6:33 你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。
6:34 所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。」
THE TENSION BETWEEN WORKING AND WAITING
By Ken Korkow
When I was growing up, my mother often said, "All good things come to he who waits – so long as he who waits, works like heck while he waits."
Yes, my mom and dad were both focused and driven. They had survived the Great Depression and did not want anyone in their own family to have those experiences. Therefore, the values and virtues of hard work – even at the cost of other things – were vigorously imparted into our mindsets.
I remember thinking as a boy, “When I grow up, I will NOT be like my dad.” But I became exactly like him, not just hard-working but also driven, focused on completing the task and reaping the rewards that came with it. Fulfilling the adage, “An apple doesn't fall far from the tree,” I had patterned my life after my father to the extent that I often heard someone say, “You're just like your old man.”
Please understand, I inherited many positive traits and gained good lessons from my parents. And I appreciated those. However, the older I get, I have learned to rely less on the power of my own flesh and instead act upon the recognition that my real identity, purpose, and manner of living come from the Lord.
Please consider the words of Hannah Whitall Smith in her classic daily devotional book, Streams in the Desert:
"A quiet spirit is of inestimable value in carrying on outward activities; and nothing so hinders the working of the hidden spiritual forces, upon which, after all, our success in everything really depends, as a spirit of unrest and anxiety.
"There is immense power in stillness. A great saint once said, “All things come to him who knows how to trust and be silent.” The words are pregnant with meaning. A knowledge of this fact would immensely change our ways of working. Instead of restless struggles, we would “sit down” inwardly before the Lord, and would let the Divine forces of His Spirit work out in silence the ends to which we aspire."
Such a perspective, of course, runs counter to the typically urgent, must-get-it-done philosophy that governs so many of us as we undertake our daily work responsibilities. However, experience has taught me that there also is great benefit from an determined effort to cultivate a quiet spirit and practice stillness despite the chaos that may surround us. Here are a couple of principles I have learned and applied from the Bible:
Be willing to slow down and wait on God, rather than trying to make things happen ourselves. In our fast-paced, high-stress world, it takes great resolve to step off the treadmill and trust in God to guide us and resolve the difficulties and challenges we might be facing. It requires faith, but I have learned trusting in the Lord has never failed me. "He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”” (Psalm 46:10).
While slowing down, we also should present our concerns to God. Worry and anxiety are constant companions for many of us in the workplace, but usually they are counterproductive emotions. The more we worry, the less we accomplish. Prayer, on the other hand, can accomplish much more than we could imagine. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
The Bible urges us to work – and work diligently. But it also teaches there are times when it is best to wait, be still, and watch to see what God can do.
Ken Korkow lives in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A., where he serves as an area director for CBMC. This is adapted from his “Fax of Life” column. Used with permission.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Do you agree with the statement that good things come to those who wait – as long as they are working as hard as they can while they wait? Explain your answer. Why is it so difficult for us to be still and to wait, especially when we need to bring a project to completion, have a deadline to meet, or must find an answer to a pressing problem at work? In the quote by Hannah Whitall Smith, she states, “There is immense power in stillness.” Do you believe this? Why or why not? And if so, what would this power be? Can you think of a time when you decided to “be still” and chose to wait, even if reluctantly, when everything inside you screamed that you had to keep working? If so, what was the outcome?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Psalm 37:4-7; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:3,9, 19:21, 21:21,30; Matthew 6:25-34, 7:7-12
