這個世界需要更多的牛仔
By Robert J. Tamasy
最近我看了一部懷俄明大學製作的宣傳短片–《世界需要更多的牛仔》。我個人沒當過牛仔，不過在看這個影片的時候，我發現它要傳達的信息非常重要。
影片提出：「不管發生什麼，都應保有永無止盡的好奇心」的挑戰。我們從何時起不再提出新的問題並勇敢找尋答案呢？即使原定的道路不會把我們帶往新的地方?甚或在別處仍有許多可以探索的新領域，我們難道仍要盲目地遵循嗎？ 這個世界需要更多的好奇心，和更多勇於挑戰、跳脫框架的思想家。這個世界需要更多的牛仔……也就是雖然不被看好，卻樂於開拓、渴望能證明某些事物的人……」
我並非在宣傳這所大學，我甚至都沒去過懷俄明州。但是，這個影片確實告訴了我們一些不光適用於教育層面的重要事情。當我們正視自己作為商業和專業人士的角色及呼召時，我認為我們都能發揮這樣的「牛仔精神」。因為這樣的牛仔形象適用於所有文化、種族、性別和傳統。
我們來看看耶穌基督和門徒的生活。聖經記載他們是漁民、商人、甚至是稅吏，但他們都有一些這種「牛仔」的生活態度。耶穌吩咐他們不隨從當時世界的流行文化和盛行的宗教信仰，要勇於挑戰新的未知領域。
耶穌宣告我們有超越律法的自由，他簡化了生活的指導原則，給予婦女前所未有的尊嚴和讚賞，並展現出與上帝建立不斷增長的實際關係的革命性新方法。在今天的職場裡，尤其是我們這些信基督是主並努力跟隨祂的人，也能夠培養充滿好奇心、勇氣、創新，且渴望挑戰的牛仔精神。
謹防寬廣的道路。世界的潮流和同儕壓力往往將我們推向大多數人選擇的路，但耶穌敦促我們選擇另一條路。「你們要進窄門。因為引到滅亡，那門是寬的，路是大的，進去的人也多；引到永生，那門是窄的，路是小的，找著的人也少。」（馬太福音7章13-14節）
選擇忠心，堅定不移。今天，忠心和信守承諾等美德常常被蔑視。但就像牛仔知道自己是誰以及要做甚麼，試圖避免任何可能分散注意力的事情，我們也要把聚焦於自己的身分以及上帝為什麼要我們在這裡。「…今日就可以選擇所要事奉的：是你們列祖在大河那邊所事奉的神呢？是你們所住這地的亞摩利人的神呢？至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」（約書亞記24章15節）
敢於與眾不同。每天我們都如羅馬書12章2節所說的被引誘「效法這個世界」，但身為耶穌基督的使者，我們被呼召要活出不一樣的生命，以至於我們生活和工作的方式引起他人的好奇：「只要心裏尊主基督為聖。有人問你們心中盼望的緣由，就要常作準備，以溫柔、敬畏的心回答各人；」（彼得前書3章15節）
© 2019. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com
反省與問題討論
當你聽到「牛仔」一詞時，會聯想到什麼？ 你的工作是否有牛仔的精神－充滿好奇、創新、隨時準備迎接挑戰、渴望開闢新的道路？這些描述有在任何層面上符合你的狀況嗎？ 要努力在思考和生活上有別於現今的主流文化有哪些困難？是否像逆流而上的鮭魚？在你看來，要成功有效地實現這一目標需要做甚麼努力？ 當周圍的環境似乎都要求你順應這個世界，試圖勇敢地與眾不同是否讓你感到害怕或不自在？如果是，你能夠如何克服？
備註：如果你手上有聖經並希望閱讀更多和這個主題相關的經文，請參考下面的經文:
馬太福音13章22節
13:22 撒在荊棘裏的，就是人聽了道，後來有世上的思慮、錢財的迷惑把道擠住了，不能結實。
馬太福音28章19-20節
28:19 所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗（或譯：給他們施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名）。
28:20 凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」
羅馬書12章1-2節
12:1 所以，弟兄們，我以 神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是 神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。
12:2 不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為 神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。
以弗所書4章17-24節
4:17 所以我說，且在主裏確實地說，你們行事不要再像外邦人存虛妄的心行事。
4:18 他們心地昏昧，與 神所賜的生命隔絕了，都因自己無知，心裏剛硬；
4:19 良心既然喪盡，就放縱私慾，貪行種種的污穢。
4:20 你們學了基督，卻不是這樣。
4:21 如果你們聽過他的道，領了他的教，學了他的真理，
4:22 就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的；
4:23 又要將你們的心志改換一新，
4:24 並且穿上新人；這新人是照著 神的形像造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。
歌羅西書3章2節
3:2 你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE COWBOYS
By Robert J. Tamasy
Recently I watched a brief promotional video produced by the University of Wyoming called, “The World Needs More Cowboys.” I have never been a cowboy, but as I reviewed the video, its message seemed very much on point.
The video asks, “Restless curiosity – whatever happened to that? When did we stop thinking up new questions and daring to chase down their answers? Should we blindly follow predetermined paths when they never take us anywhere new?…when there”s still so much to explore off the beaten trail? The world needs more wonder, more outside thinkers hungry for a challenge. The world needs more cowboys…. It”s the spirit of the underdog, the trailblazer, the kind of spirit that longs for something to prove….”
I am not advocating for the university; I have never even been to Wyoming. But this video suggests something important, and not just for education. As we view our roles – our callings – as business and professional people, I think we would do well to embody this “cowboy spirit.” Because the cowboy image seems to fit regardless of culture, ethnicity, gender or tradition.
Looking at the life of Jesus Christ and His followers, as presented in the Bible, we find that while they were fishermen, tradesmen, even tax collectors, they all shared a bit of this “cowboy” approach to life. Jesus was commanding them to go against the flow of culture and prevailing religion, staking claim to new, uncharted territory.
Among the things Jesus did was declare freedom from legalistic behavior; simplified the guiding principles for everyday living; gave unprecedented dignity and appreciation for women; and showed a revolutionary new way for establishing a growing, practical relationship with God. In today”s marketplace, especially those of us who profess faith in Christ and strive to follow Him, we also can cultivate a cowboy mentality of curiosity, boldness, innovation and eagerness for a challenge. Here are some examples:
Beware of the beaten path. The courses of culture and peer pressure often push us in the direction most others are taking, but Jesus urged choosing another way. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it“ (Matthew 7:14).
Choose a determined allegiance. Today, virtues like loyalty and commitment are often dismissed. But just as cowboys understand who they are and what they do, avoiding anything that might distract, we too must focus on who we are and why God has us here: “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Dare to be different. Every day we are tempted to “conform to the pattern of this world” as Romans 12:2 states it, but as ambassadors for Jesus Christ we are called to be different, to the extent that our lives and approaches to work raise questions in the minds of others: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
© 2019. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
When you hear the term “cowboy,” what comes to mind? How does the image of cowboys as curious, innovative, always ready for challenges, and eager to blaze new trails relate to the kind of work you do? Do these descriptions fit you in any ways? What are the difficulties in striving to think and live differently than the prevailing culture? To use a different metaphor – to be more like a salmon swimming upstream? What does it require, in your view, to accomplish this effectively and successfully? Does it frighten you or make you uneasy to consider being bold and different when the surrounding environment seems to be demanding that you conform to it? If so, how can you overcome this reluctance?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more this subject, consider the following passages: Matthew 13:22, 28:19-20; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3:2
