近來我深深感受到人生走來極不容易，因為眼看許多人面對沉重的壓力和挑戰、人際間的矛盾衝突、身體受到疾病的煎熬、家人染病或過世，再加上工作壓力等等，讓教會有一種喘不過氣的感覺。然而，我們也看見神在苦難和壓力中依然與我們同在，祂的愛和鼓勵沒有離開過我們。我們感謝神，因為有些人熬過了苦難，有些人從軟弱中站了起來，也有些人成為別人的安慰。
我走過了五十多年的歲月，一直在問人生是什麼？什麼樣的人生最美、最好呢？我想，答案顯然不是無苦無痛、一帆風順、輕鬆省力的人生；乃是有力量承擔壓力和挑戰，在苦難中有安慰與鼓勵，當苦難和壓力過去後，能成為別人的幫助。
假如我有必須要經過的苦難和挑戰，我將不祈求神把它們拿去，但我懇求祂賜我力量去勝過，並在苦難中有安慰。這就是我曾體會過的基督徒團契的情誼，也是我願意努力在這個群體中經營的生活。我認為在苦難中獲得別人的安慰是一種祝福，而能安慰受苦難者的人便是神的使者。我盼望在教會中有隨時願意祝福別人的神的使者。
Recently, I have deeply realized that life is not easy, because I saw so many people suffered from a lot of stress and hardships. Conflicts in relationship, sickness, and loved ones passed away or being sick, plus work stress and challenges, all make our church out of breath.
However, we also saw God was with us even in suffering and stress, and His love and encouragement would never leave us. I thank God for I saw people have managed their lives through sufferings, and others stood up again from the bottom of the valley of life, and even more that some became others’ comfort.
I have just gone through a little more than fifty years in life, and am still asking the old question. What is life? How can I live a beautiful and good life? Easy and smooth life should not be the answer. But a life that is strong enough to pick up challenges and handle stress, and willing to be comforted when in suffering. A life that is eager to help others especially after going through suffering.
If I must go through suffering and challenge, I pray that I will not ask God to remove it, but for strength to overcome it, and comfort in the midst of it. This is what I have tasted in Christian fellowship, and what I am trying to build among us. I truly believe that it is a great blessing to receive comfort in suffering, and those who comfort the sufferer are angels from God. I pray that we will have a lot of comforting angels in our church.
