小羊
一個基督徒的信仰隨筆
中國戲曲裏女扮男裝的花木蘭、穆桂英、和祝英台都是筆者尊敬的角色，因為她們勇敢向上。一些女孩為了生活方便、工作進步“變成”男性，值得同情。雖然化學可使水火互容，但是生物永遠不會讓男女性染色體互變。當今，有拜金男（XY）冒充女性（XX）在高強度對抗的競技場上痛毆女運動員，還得獎牌！男女有別、黑白分明，天經地義。試想，專業與業餘、Major和Minor豈可一比？
1. Ping Pong game
大學時，一個省隊來了幾名乒乓選手與本校的尖子們進行友誼賽。本校的冠軍全神貫注地使盡了全力，那位省隊選手則似乎輕鬆自如、甚至看上去有點心不在焉。結果，校隊冠軍有一局拿了七分，雖敗猶榮。大家都為那七分高興，因為其他尖子們隻拿了兩、三分。
2. Football game
九十年代一個周末，在哈佛橄欖球場偶然觀看了一場哈佛對陣波士頓學院的比賽。結果7:34。散場時，我情緒低沉平靜，畢竟哈佛學生智商比球商高。讓我驚訝的是，有位教授模樣的長者興奮地誇獎哈佛校隊在拿那7分時表現出色，令我也歡樂起來。近年來，哈佛也學其它大學招收運動員當學生；有的畢業生還獲得奧運冠軍。雖然國際運動賽冠軍不是哈佛培養的結果，但是它們的運動資質卻給學校揚名。
3. Square bank clerk
USA is not a racist country. But somehow you may encounter unfriendly remarks by surprise. A bank clerk came from Singapore told me out of blue that she voted against Chinese like me for immigration into US, when she was serving me at the counter. I smiled and steered to another topic before leaving.
A Professor from Singapore later coached me to ask her: “你能來，為什麽我就不能來？”
4. Money cook
剛來美國時，因獵奇在超市買了十枚折價的Artichokes. 當時，還沒有網路可以查詢怎樣吃它。琢磨了一會，決定先嚐試五枚：將硬硬的大葉片燉湯，將白嫩的小心扔進了公用的廚房垃圾筒。一位女同學看到後大笑驚呼：“Artichoke is a delicate food. The heart is the best portion!” 從那以後，遇到廚師就想套近乎請教幾招。
I met a senior cook at a company party and volunteered to wash dishes for her. A few days later, she asked me if I could help her fill out online forms to get a $100K loan. I was about to start the application, but for caution I asked her: “for what?” Then, she showed me an email that said she had ~$700K bitcoins, and she needed to pay ~$80K to the stock keeper as annual taxes. I warned her that it was a fraud and refused to help her with the loan.
Her role in the small company was to prepare three meals for four residents daily. She proposed to work from 7 am to 6 pm, from Monday to Thursday every week. The boss said that 5 hours was enough for the cooking role, since breakfast and lunch did not need flame cooking. However, she filed a timesheet reporting 10 hours a day, since she needed to arrive at 7 am to prepare breakfast, and dinner-related chores made her stay until 6 pm. She claimed that she was for money only.
The boss intended to help her become a Christian in the beginning, but one needs to be rich to continue the game. 愛財無罪，貪財才掉入陷阱。在美國，除了基督徒們外，有多少富人願意付上愛心、冒著血本無歸的風險作這善工呢？小企業主想當不做事的躺平式老板都難。
5. Stock myth
I received $900 stocks as a bonus from a company a while ago. The company managed it for 10 years, and it grew to $1900. Then, the company gave it to me to manage. Due to its tiny amount, I traded it online using skin-deep information. Within 10 years, it is now worth $300. It made me feel that my portion of the stock market resembles gambling resorts.
結語
使徒保羅曾諄諄教誨基督徒們：你們中間，有智慧的不多；如果沒有複活，基督徒們就比世人更可憐。新約聖經的作者和主人翁們多數都在肉身遭受蹂躪中去世，但是他們對複活的盼望堅定不移。耶穌基督在世時教導門徒們說，人的心在哪裏，財寶就在哪裏；財寶存在今世，有賊偷、蟲咬；存在天上，得永生。誠然，今生的Major是播種複活的種子的人有福了。
Golden Verses: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10)
Hymns: “Priceless” (Seth Mosley & 4 Others, 2015),
“My Jesus” (Anne Wilson, J. Pardo & M. West; 2021),
“I’m so Blessed” (Jonathan Smith & 4 Others, 2021),
“Who You Say I am” (Reuben Morgan & B. Fielding, 2018),
“Perfectly Loved” (Rachael Lampa, E. Hulse & A. Ripp; 2022).
