2020 06 13
作者 Article by: Yvonne Zheng
後園有三棵小果樹，已經種了廿多年, 想要有好收成, 就要按時施肥，除蟲和修剪。每年三四月, 樹未出芽時要灑硫磺。而噴有機除蟲劑, 就要在花蕾未出時，花落時及以後每十天做一次, 直至收成前十日才停止。施肥較容易。只要按樹身大小, 在泥土鬆軟時，埋下一枝枝的果樹肥料就可以。天冷後、入冬前一定要修剪樹枝。天熱修樹會縮少樹的壽命。以上的工序, 只要做足, 就會體驗到果實纍纍的喜悦。可惜的是, 這種喜悦, 我只嘗過一兩次。因為知易行難, 理由很多, 有時是天氣冷、雨水、事忙、又或者是健忘。總是做漏這、做漏那。農作物的栽種, 是非常講究時間性的。日子一過就是過了。不可以回頭補做。真的是幾分耕耘、幾分收獲。所以豐收的日子少之又少。
我們和神、和人建立關係都是有時間性的。時間過了、機會就少了。小時候知有神的存在、知道在學校早會要祈禱。大一些有機會認識上帝，開始和衪建立關係。加入教會、熱心參與團契生活。婚後因工作關係、因帶小孩關係、因照顧家人關係、遠離上帝、遠離教會。現在年紀大些、時間好似多14
些、再一次踏足教會、溶入上帝的大家庭中。但是錯失了的聽道時機、錯失了的研經機會、錯失了和上帝説話的時間, 是一去不復返的。
在新冠疫情下，有些人時間好像多了、有些人時間好像少了。假如你是時間多了的一羣，你又怎讓分配多餘的時間呢？你會在靈修上下多一些功夫? 在侍奉上下多一些功夫? 又或者在禱告上下多一些功夫嗎?
I planted three dwarf fruit trees in my backyard twenty something years ago. Despite their small size, pound for pound, they are supposed to produce the same amount of fruit compared to regular fruit trees. At least that’s what it says in the gardening books. Throughout the years, I might have had two or three bumper crops. So what was the problem with my trees? Well, the gardening books also say one has to dust and spray the trees with sulphur and insecticidal soap, fertilize and prune the trees at specific times of the year. Of course, I miss a few of these time sensitive events every year due to snow, rain, being busy or just plain forgetfulness. Hence, I get small, sour and/or rotten crops most of the time. Time is like that, you snooze, you lose.
Have you been snoozing when it comes to building relationship with God and people? What have you missed while you are busy living your life? Many of us feel like our life has come to a standstill during this COVID-19 Pandemic. Are you willing to grasp this God given time and opportunity to work on the most important business? God’s business!