愚蠢與蒼老—-傳道書12:1［你趁著年幼, 衰敗的日子尚未來到, 就是你所說, 我毫無喜樂的那些年日未曾臨近之先. 當記念造你的主.］［故事］一個清晨, 溫暖的陽光普照大地. 有一位等車的老人拿著一把笨重的黑傘在等車, 旁人奇怪的問”今天會下雨嗎？”老人自信的回答”當然不會.” “那你拿傘是為了遮太陽？” 老人說”不是！” 旁人用迷惑不解的眼光看了看那把傘. 老人解釋說”我老了, 腿不靈活了. 可我不願意旁人看我拿著手杖, 說我是個可憐的老頭. 於是我就以傘代杖, 晴天也帶著, 最多讓人說：瞧！那人多蠢！如果有人問我”在愚蠢與衰老之間, 你選擇哪一様？我會說”我寧願選擇愚蠢！” [思考] 有人以老為驕傲, 因為它代表經驗和老練. 可是更多人不願老, 因為老往往與衰殘和死亡聯在一起. 讓我們從年輕時, 從今日開始, 珍愛生命的每一天. ［禱告］愛我們的天父, 我們在世上的日子只不過是幾十年, 在這充滿誘惑的世代裹, 求祢教導我們記念祢是造我們的主, 趁著青春的歲月, 把生命的最佳活力奉獻給祢. 在我們年紀老邁時, 求祢幫助我們在祢的恩典裏, 仍然為祢而活. 讓我們一生的生命都榮耀祢. 禱告是奉主耶穌基督的名, 阿們！
Foolishness and Old Age – Ecclesiastes 12:1 [While you are still young, before the days of decline come, before the days of my joylessness, as you say, come near, remember your Creator. ] [Story] One early morning, the warm sunshine was shining on the earth. There was an old man waiting for the bus holding a heavy black umbrella. A bystander asked strangely, “Will it rain today?” The old man replied confidently, “Of course not.” Yes.” “Then you took the umbrella to cover the sun?” The old man said, “No!” The others looked at the umbrella with puzzled eyes. The old man explained, “I am old and my legs are not flexible anymore. But I don’t I wanted others to see me holding a cane and think I was a poor old man. So I used an umbrella instead of a cane and carried it with me on sunny days. At most, people would say: Look! How stupid that person is! If someone asks me, “Between stupidity and aging, Time, which one do you choose? I would say “I would rather choose stupidity!” [Thinking] Some people are proud of being old because it represents experience and sophistication. But more people don’t want to be old because old age is often associated with decline and death. Let’s start from youth. From now on, cherish every day of your life. [Prayer] Heavenly Father who loves us, our days on earth are only a few decades. In this age full of temptations, please teach us to remember that You created us. Lord, I take advantage of my youth to dedicate the best vitality of my life to You. When we are old, please help us to still live for You in Your grace. Let us glorify You throughout our lives. This prayer is in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!