在商業航空領域享受了 25 年回報豐厚的職業生涯，並從中階主管晉升到高階主管，我學到了一個重要的事實 : 航空業的人充滿了熱情。在巴西，我們開玩笑說它就像「cachaça（卡沙夏－註１）」- 一種我們國家非常流行：從蜂蜜或甘蔗中提煉的白蘭地酒。對許多人來說，航空業本身就是一個獨特而讓人陶醉的行業。

由於我身處航空產業，所以我開始和我的國際公法教授合作（他同時也是一名記者和飛行員）成立了一家專門研究航空問題的諮詢公司。我從他那裡學到了很多，包括我永遠不會忘記的一課：飛機需要也擁有「態度」。有些人會把態度（attitude）和高度（altitude）混淆，因為在英語這兩個詞聽起來很相似。當然，高度也是飛行的重要根本，但是教授教我的是態度（attitude），而不是高度（altitude）。

姿態或位態（attitude）飛機相對於風的方向，機頭和機翼與自然地平線上的相對位置（飛機軸與地平線的角度差）。如果沒有正確的姿態，飛行員就無法讓飛機在空中維持飛行，它會墜落。面對亂流，飛機需要「姿態」（attitude）。

面對生活的挑戰，我們也需要這樣的姿態我們稱之為態度（attitude），尤其是在危機的時刻。生活不是一條筆直的道路，而是我們必須面對的一連串時好時壞的景況。對於那些面臨挑戰但最終得勝的人來說，不同之處在於他們的態度。把那個飛行的比喻再進一步推演，我們是自己生活的飛行員，是我們事業、業務項目、企業的指揮官。不確定性、損失、被拋棄、災難、失敗和挫折早晚會來。但讓我們保持站立、自信和繼續戰鬥的，是我們的態度。

在《聖經》中，使徒保羅提到了這一點，他用一種非凡的方式表達了自己的態度：「我們四面受敵，卻不被困住；心裏作難，卻不至失望；遭逼迫，卻不被丟棄；打倒了，卻不至死亡。」（哥林多後書 4章8-9節）

後來，他確定自己學到的關於擁有正確態度的重要性，無論面臨什麼情況：「我知道怎樣處卑賤，也知道怎樣處豐富；或飽足，或飢餓；或有餘，或缺乏，隨事隨在，我都得了祕訣。」（腓立比書 4章12節）。保羅始終保持正確態度的能力，是在腓立比地區建立一個充滿活力的，第一世紀信心教會的重要因素。

保羅和他的朋友西拉，因為作強有力的信心見證，激勵了許多人。但這也造成了他們往後的遭遇：他們的教導很快影響了社會上那些非法和不道德人的經濟利益。衝突出現，促使當局採取行動。在受到嚴厲對待和鞭打之後，保羅和西拉發現自己被監禁了。但他們的態度決定了接下來發生的事情。

儘管他們有很多理由來抱怨和感到挫敗，但他們選擇了另一種態度：不管環境的狀態，就是禱告讚美上帝。他們的禱告和態度達到了芮氏地震規模的最大級數，引發了一場真正的地震並讓監獄的門打開。獄卒知道嚴酷的羅馬法律：他所負責的囚犯逃脫，就是死路一條，因此決定自殺。然而，保羅介入，說服其他囚犯不要逃跑。這讓獄卒接受了保羅和西拉的信仰。

我們不總是能夠選擇我們的環境，但態度卻是一種選擇。你對生活環境的態度是什麼呢？你面對事業上的挑戰，態度如何？新年才剛開始，你對即將面臨的挑戰抱著什麼樣的態度？你的態度會讓一切變得不同！

註１：cachaça（卡沙夏）為葡萄牙文，專指原產於巴西的甘蔗汁所發酵、蒸餾，置於木桶熟成的烈酒，也稱為巴西蘭姆酒，作者在這裡意指為「熱情」。

©版權所有 為賽爾吉澳․佛提斯。他是一位策略管理顧問，專長是企業領導。他也是巴西聖保羅市CBMC的會員，他協助複審週一嗎哪和將其翻譯成葡萄牙文已經有20多年的時間。

備註：如果你手上有聖經並想閱讀更多內容，請考慮以下經文：

詩篇 23篇1-6節
23:1 耶和華是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。
23:2 他使我躺臥在青草地上，領我在可安歇的水邊。
23:3 他使我的靈魂甦醒，為自己的名引導我走義路。
23:4 我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為你與我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。
23:5 在我敵人面前，你為我擺設筵席；你用油膏了我的頭，使我的福杯滿溢。
23:6 我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我；我且要住在耶和華的殿中，直到永遠。
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15章22節
15:22不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。
箴言16章3、9節
16:3 你所做的，要交託耶和華，你所謀的，就必成立。
16:9 人心籌算自己的道路；惟耶和華指引他的腳步。
箴言19章20節
19:20 你要聽勸教，受訓誨，使你終久有智慧。
箴言20章24節
20:24 人的腳步為耶和華所定；人豈能明白自己的路呢？
耶利米書 29章11-13節
29:11 耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。
29:12 你們要呼求我，禱告我，我就應允你們。
29:13 你們尋求我，若專心尋求我，就必尋見。
耶利米書33章3節
33:3 你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。

反省與問題討論

1. 如果你對航空業或飛行有所了解，你對姿態（attitude）的重要性有多少認識？以前你聽過這個詞嗎？你對態度（attitude）和高度（altitude）之間的區別了解多少？
2. 把航空比喻放在日常生活中，態度如何影響我們對日常環境 – 尤其是逆境的反應？
3. 你認為哪些因素會影響我們的態度？當飛行員也必須改變飛機的姿態（attitude）以適應飛行條件時。我們能夠改變態度以適應不斷變化的環境嗎？請解釋你的答案。
4. 信心 – 對我們自己和能力，還有對上帝以及祂參與我們的生命 – 如何影響我們面對每日生活的態度？

THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF OUR ATTITUDE

By Sergio Fortes

Having enjoyed a rewarding career in commercial aviation for a quarter of a century, advancing from supervisor to director, I learned an important truth: People in aviation are passionate. Here in Brazil, we joke that it is like “cachaça” – our country’s very popular brandy derived from honey or sugar cane. For many people, aviation provides a unique intoxication all its own.

Because of my involvement in the aviation industry, I began working with my professor of international law, also a journalist and pilot, setting up a consultancy specializing in aeronautical problems. I learned much from him, including one lesson that I will never forget: the airplane has and needs ATTITUDE. Some confuse it with “altitude,” because in English the words sound similar. And obviously, altitude is also fundamental for flight. But the professor taught me about attitude, not altitude.

Attitude is the orientation of the aircraft in relation to the wind, and based on relative positions of its nose and wings on the natural horizon. Without the proper attitude, the pilot cannot keep an aircraft in the air. It will fall. To face turbulence, the plane needs attitude.

To face life’s challenges, we also need attitude, especially in times of crisis. Life is not a straight path, but a succession of good and bad circumstances to which we must respond. What makes the difference for those who face challenges and come out victorious is determined by their attitude. Taking the aviation metaphor one step further, we are the pilot of our life – the commander of our business, our project, our enterprise. Uncertainties, losses, abandonments, misfortunes, failures and frustrations will come sooner or later. What will keep us standing, confident and continuing to fight, is our attitude.

In the Bible, the apostle Paul referred to this, expressing his attitude in an extraordinary way: “On all sides we are oppressed by difficulties, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed because we don’t know why certain things happen to us, but we are not desperate. We are persecuted but not abandoned. We are brought down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Later, he would confirm what he had learned about the importance of having the right attitude, whatever circumstances were that he was facing: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have it all. I have already learned the secret to live contentedly in any circumstance, whether with a full stomach, hunger, plenty or need” (Philippians 4:12).Paul’s ability to always assume the right attitude was an important factor in establishing one of the vibrant first-century faith communities in Philippi.

Paul and his friend, Silas, provided a powerful witness of faith that inspired many. However, there also were consequences for them. The social impact of their teachings quickly affected illegal and unethical economic interests. Conflicts arose, which prompted the authorities to take action. After being harshly treated and flogged, Paul and Silas found themselves imprisoned. Their attitude shaped what came next.

Even though they had many reasons to complain and feel defeated, they chose another attitude: to pray and praise God in spite of their circumstances. Their prayers and attitude had maximum magnitude on the Richter scale, causing a literal earthquake in the prison. Knowing the harsh Roman law, their jailer decided to kill himself, assuming the prisoners under his charge would escape. Paul intervened, however, convincing the other prisoners not to flee. This led to the jailer embracing Paul’s and Silas’s faith.

We cannot always choose our circumstances, but attitude is a choice. What has been your attitude towards life’s circumstances? What has been your attitude towards the challenges of your business? Still early in the new year, what is your attitude towards the challenges you will surely face? The attitude you take will make all the difference!

Sergio Fortes is a mentor and consultant in logistics and corporate strategic business. As a member of CBMC in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, he has coordinated the translation of Monday Manna into Portuguese for more than 20 years. He is committed to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ – to make disciples.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. If you know anything about aviation, or flying, what is your understanding of the importance of attitude? Have you ever heard the term before? What is your understanding of the difference between attitude and altitude?
2. Shifting the aviation analogy to everyday life, how does attitude affect how we respond to everyday circumstances – particularly adversity?
3. What factors do you think influence the kind of attitude we carry with us? Is it possible to change our attitude to adjust to changing circumstances, as a pilot must change a plane’s attitude to adjust to flying conditions? Why or why not?
4. How can faith – not only in ourselves and our abilities, but also in God and His involvement in our lives – affect our attitude as we go through a typical day?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 3:5-6, 15:22, 16:3,9, 19:20, 20:24; Jeremiah 29:11-13, 33:3

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
• 歲首到年終

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