There is a jujube tree in front of my house. It blooms in the spring and bears green and sweet fruit in autumn, providing nourishment for my thirsty heart. There is also a small river flowing in front of my house. This flow of living water seems to tell a never-ending story.
Since I am now an adult, I need to earn my own living and take care of myself. No one will be there to take care of me and spoil me. The reality of this life will challenge me in many ways. Therefore, I need a strong will to resist the challenges and trials of society.
But even a strong person will experience weariness and weakness. Broad shoulders are needed at times to provide comfort. So what provides this comfort for me? The answer is in my hometown and the jujube trees. I am eager to see the blossoming of the jujube flowers and taste the sweet and delicious fruit. In this changing world, I look toward my home, the warm feelings of a home, and the warmth of families among the jujube trees.
But what gives my soul strength and support? The answer is my faith. This faith was passed on to me by my mother’s aunt, who is my great aunt.
Her faith is very simple, sincere, and pure, similar to that of a child depending on her mother. I also have a deeper understanding of faith based in prayer and study. I began with doubts and confusion as I attempted to find clarity and familiarity, now I simply believe and rely on Jesus, without complaint or regret, without any external conditions. The understanding of Jesus and His love are sufficient for me.
When I left my hometown, I walked a road that was difficult. But whenever I feel stressed and unable to overcome problems, I always remember an old saying: "Heavy pressure is not a disaster, but a driving force to help us take off." The pharmacist knows the best medicine is in the deep forests and above the cliffs because the comfort of the plains has exhausted the potency of medicine. Even the jujube tree in my hometown has been made stronger by wind and frost, rain and snow, and purified by the severe cold and scorching heat.
My career is just beginning. I don't want to become famous overnight, and I just hope to achieve a little success step by step and through my own efforts. If I am better today than I was yesterday, I am calmer and humbler now than last week, then I am making progress towards my goals. What's more, as a Christian, we should not indulge in material desires, but devote ourselves to spiritual things and gospel ministry.
In my work, I have also experienced some struggles with correct ideology and thinking. The city is filled with tall buildings, but I only rent a small room with a few square meters, and even with all my savings I can only buy a few square meters of an apartment. So I am constantly shouting: "When can I make it to the top in this city?" But after reading books, experiencing life, and growing in my spiritual life, my thought has changed from being so impetuous to being quiet. I have moved from being childish to someone who is more mature. Now I no longer feel resentful and bitter but have learned to think deeply and more introspectively.
I also have reflected on why I have been shouting. I have been fighting for power and to become someone, but those with true power don’t just keep asking but they also give. Now I often say to myself: "I don't need to stand at the top of the city, I just need to be the master of my own house. I am willing to serve God and serve people, like Jesus. He is God, but He washed the feet of his disciples. What an example of humility. He not only showed His love but also gave a good example for all the disciples, so that everyone can imitate Him by serving others and being humble. The person who knows himself and can exercise self-control can walk on the ladder of dreams; the people who are humble can gain spiritual blessings; and the people who are thinking of and devote themselves to others can be blessed by God.
When facing a complex society, the young me will encounter various setbacks and problems. But whenever I am restless, I think of Jesus, the soul shepherd. He came from heaven. He was divine, full of tenderness and love; and He is the son of the Father, majestic, full of care and sympathy for all humans. Let us treat sin like a field that welcomes the farmers to plough the weeds, and then harvest fruit in autumn.
The spring seeds sown by the farmer represent hope for a new life, the same as in our lives. "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here." Let our lives sow the new seeds, be watered by the Holy Spirit, nurtured in the Word and the truth, bearing plenty of spiritual fruit that will ensure that we will be victorious soldiers of Christ.
- Translated by Elaina Wu
一颗枣树的启示
一棵枣树，就种在我家门前。它在春华秋实里开花结果，并结出一颗颗青绿色的枣子，饱满而香甜，沁润我早已干渴的心田。还有一条小河，从我家门前流过，它是活水、泉源，似乎在诉说着一个永不凋零的奔腾的故事。
成年后的我，将要去远方拼搏。远方的世界不再有人呵护、宠爱我，我将迎来烈火一般的现实磨砺与淬炼我。我需要有坚强的意志来抵抗社会的各种挑战与试炼。
但就算性格再坚韧的人，也会有疲乏脆弱的时候，也需要借一个宽阔的肩膀来依偎着。谁是我前进路上的安慰剂？答案就是家乡和门前的枣树。看枣树花开花落，品枣子香甜美味。我在枣树的变幻世界里寻找家乡的味道、温馨的感觉、亲人般的温暖。
那么谁又是我前行路上不断支持我心灵的力量？答案就是我的基督信仰，这信仰是我母亲的婶婶，也就是我的外叔婆传递给我的。
外叔婆的信仰很简单，就一个字“信”，且信得真诚、纯粹，像一个小孩子依赖母亲一样。而我也在祈祷与学习中对信仰有了更深入地了解，我从一开始的疑惑、迷茫到后来的清晰与熟悉，直至现在单纯地相信与依靠耶稣，且无怨无悔，不需要任何外在条件，只要耶稣懂我、爱我就够了。
离开家乡，我走在艰辛闯荡的道路上，每当感到压力重重、力不能胜的时候，总能想起一句古老的名言：“沉重的压力有时不是灾难，而是腾飞的动力与激励。"采药人知道药效最好的药材是在深山老林之中、悬崖峭壁之上，因为平原的安逸已将药物的效力全部消耗殆尽。就算是家乡的枣树，也在风霜雨雪中经历磨炼，在严寒酷暑中经过淬炼。
我的事业才刚刚起步，我不奢望一举成名，只希望通过自己的努力获得一步步、一点点的成功。只要我今天比昨天进步，这一周比上一周更加懂得沉静与谦和，那我就是朝着总目标又迈进了一步。更何况，作为一名基督徒，我们不能只沉迷于物质与欲望的追求，而应该在属灵之事、福音事工上多下功夫。
在工作过程中，我也曾出现一些思想上的波动与挣扎。城市里到处是高楼大厦，而自己只租住着几十平米的房间；自己的储蓄也只能买几平米的房。我自己在不断呼喊：“我何时才能成为城市的主人翁呢？”在书籍阅读量、人生阅历、属灵生命不断增加之后，我开始从浮躁走向沉静、从幼稚走向成熟。现在我不再怨愤，不再苦大仇深，而是学会深度的思考与反省。
我也开始审视自己最初的呼喊——我一直在争取做主人的权力，但主人不是一味索取，而是舍得之道与人生减法。现在我常常对自己说的一句话就是：“我不需要做城市的主人，只需要做自己的主人就行，而且还要甘愿做上帝的仆人，甘愿服侍人。就像主耶稣一样，他身为神，却也甘愿为自己的门徒洗脚，这是何等的谦卑。这既是耶稣爱的彰显，同时也给众门徒做了好的榜样，让大家都可以效法他，做一个甘愿服侍、甘愿谦卑的人。”能认识自己、拥有节制的力量，才是走向梦想的阶梯；拥有谦逊自我、谦卑自己的品性，才能获得属灵的福分；拥有利他之心、奉献之心、为他人祝福，才能得到上帝的祝福。
年轻的我，面对社会的纷繁复杂，会遇到各种挫折与难题。但每当我烦躁不安的时候，我就想到了主耶稣这位灵魂大牧者——来自天上，神圣无比，却充满了温情与爱意；源于天父，威严无比，却充满对个人生命的关注与怜悯。让我们将自己的罪恶像田地一样，让农夫耕耘远离杂草侵蚀，迎来秋天的丰收。
农夫播下的春天种子，预示着新生命的希望。我们的生命也是：“我们都是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。”让我们的生命播下新生的种粒，接受圣灵满满的浇灌，在圣经话语和属灵真理的滋养下，结出丰盛的属灵果实，做一个完全得胜的基督精兵。
There is a jujube tree in front of my house. It blooms in the spring and bears green and sweet fruit in autumn, providing nourishment for my thirsty heart. There is also a small river flowing in front of my house. This flow of living water seems to tell a never-ending story.
Since I am now an adult, I need to earn my own living and take care of myself. No one will be there to take care of me and spoil me. The reality of this life will challenge me in many ways. Therefore, I need a strong will to resist the challenges and trials of society.
But even a strong person will experience weariness and weakness. Broad shoulders are needed at times to provide comfort. So what provides this comfort for me? The answer is in my hometown and the jujube trees. I am eager to see the blossoming of the jujube flowers and taste the sweet and delicious fruit. In this changing world, I look toward my home, the warm feelings of a home, and the warmth of families among the jujube trees.
But what gives my soul strength and support? The answer is my faith. This faith was passed on to me by my mother’s aunt, who is my great aunt.
Her faith is very simple, sincere, and pure, similar to that of a child depending on her mother. I also have a deeper understanding of faith based in prayer and study. I began with doubts and confusion as I attempted to find clarity and familiarity, now I simply believe and rely on Jesus, without complaint or regret, without any external conditions. The understanding of Jesus and His love are sufficient for me.
When I left my hometown, I walked a road that was difficult. But whenever I feel stressed and unable to overcome problems, I always remember an old saying: "Heavy pressure is not a disaster, but a driving force to help us take off." The pharmacist knows the best medicine is in the deep forests and above the cliffs because the comfort of the plains has exhausted the potency of medicine. Even the jujube tree in my hometown has been made stronger by wind and frost, rain and snow, and purified by the severe cold and scorching heat.
My career is just beginning. I don't want to become famous overnight, and I just hope to achieve a little success step by step and through my own efforts. If I am better today than I was yesterday, I am calmer and humbler now than last week, then I am making progress towards my goals. What's more, as a Christian, we should not indulge in material desires, but devote ourselves to spiritual things and gospel ministry.
In my work, I have also experienced some struggles with correct ideology and thinking. The city is filled with tall buildings, but I only rent a small room with a few square meters, and even with all my savings I can only buy a few square meters of an apartment. So I am constantly shouting: "When can I make it to the top in this city?" But after reading books, experiencing life, and growing in my spiritual life, my thought has changed from being so impetuous to being quiet. I have moved from being childish to someone who is more mature. Now I no longer feel resentful and bitter but have learned to think deeply and more introspectively.
I also have reflected on why I have been shouting. I have been fighting for power and to become someone, but those with true power don’t just keep asking but they also give. Now I often say to myself: "I don't need to stand at the top of the city, I just need to be the master of my own house. I am willing to serve God and serve people, like Jesus. He is God, but He washed the feet of his disciples. What an example of humility. He not only showed His love but also gave a good example for all the disciples, so that everyone can imitate Him by serving others and being humble. The person who knows himself and can exercise self-control can walk on the ladder of dreams; the people who are humble can gain spiritual blessings; and the people who are thinking of and devote themselves to others can be blessed by God.
When facing a complex society, the young me will encounter various setbacks and problems. But whenever I am restless, I think of Jesus, the soul shepherd. He came from heaven. He was divine, full of tenderness and love; and He is the son of the Father, majestic, full of care and sympathy for all humans. Let us treat sin like a field that welcomes the farmers to plough the weeds, and then harvest fruit in autumn.
The spring seeds sown by the farmer represent hope for a new life, the same as in our lives. "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here." Let our lives sow the new seeds, be watered by the Holy Spirit, nurtured in the Word and the truth, bearing plenty of spiritual fruit that will ensure that we will be victorious soldiers of Christ.
- Translated by Elaina Wu
Enlightenment from the Jujube Tree
