#10 ….學 我 的 樣 式….

“我 心 裡 柔 和 謙 卑 ， 你 們 當 負 我 的 軛 ， 學 我 的 樣 式 ； 這 樣 ， 你 們 心 裡 就 必 得 享 安 息 。 因 為 我 的 軛 是 容 易 的 ， 我 的 擔 子 是 輕 省 的 。”

馬 太 福 音 11:29-30

親愛的上帝，

我有多少次對宗教感到精疲力盡？宗教不該帶來和平並讓我安心嗎？當我感到精疲力盡時，究竟出了什麼問題？ 當你的話語提醒我「學 我 的 樣 式」時，我便記得回到默觀耶穌的練習。 我的問題在於我常常把你的一生當作故事或歷史來讀，卻完全忘記去審視你從容的生活方式和節奏。 你從不匆忙，總是有時間回答問題，無論他們多麼愚蠢或不合理。當我窺視你的日常日程時，你總是找到時間獨處，或者與人群在一起，然後花時間與你的門徒一起，用愛和耐心教導他們。 這是因為你不是活在”應該” 與”不應該” 的規條與捆綁中，宗教不能帶給人真自由，只有真理才能。

主啊，願我回應你的邀請，過自由、輕鬆的服事生活，觀察你，並將你所做的事生動地記在我心裡。 願我放下那些為我自己的驕傲而自加的負擔，學會生活在一種不受強迫的恩典節奏中。 我必須做出選擇：讓遵循自己的議程導致沉重的負擔，瀕臨精疲力竭；或與你相伴，過著不緊不慢卻充實的生活。

主啊，憐憫我並幫助我。

阿門

#10 "Unforced rhythm of grace…watch how I do it..."

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Dear God,

How often have I felt burned out on religion? Isn’t religion supposed to bring peace and keep me at ease? What went wrong when I feel burned out? When your Word reminded me to “watch how you do it”, I remember to come back to the practice of contemplating on Jesus. So, often I read your life like a story or history, I completely forget to look into your way of graceful living. You are never hurried, always have time to answer questions, no matter how mindless or unreasonable they might be. When I peek into your daily agenda, you always find time to be alone, with the crowd, and then spend time with your disciples teaching them with love and patience. Your burden is light because you are not bound by an institution of religion and its regulations that are summed up by the “dos” and “don’ts”, "shoulds" or "shouldn'ts".

Lord, may I respond to your invitation to a free and light life of service by observing you and keeping the stories of what you have done vividly in my heart. May I be willing to put away those self-inflicted burdens that serve my own pride but learn to live in a life of unforced rhythm of grace. I have a choice to make: to follow my own agenda which leads to heavy burden at the brink of burning out; or keep company with you to live an unhurried but fruitful life.

Have mercy on me and help me, Lord.

Amen