週一下午四時三十分，我坐在喬治福克斯大學的音樂廳裏，看著波特蘭青少年愛樂交響樂團的團員陸陸續續地從外頭進來，為晚上的音樂會作準備。這個號稱大波特蘭地區最好的青少年交響樂團，成員有六、七十位，年紀從八年級到大學二、三年紀不等。有人遠從華盛頓州的溫歌華地區來，有人更來自南邊的撒冷。他們固定每週一及週六的傍晚練習。看著這些年輕人每個人手上拿著樂器努力演奏，我不禁想著，是多少心血、努力、和忍耐，多少的時間和資源的投注，才能造就出其中的一個成員？若是這些孩子沒有從小開始學習、放棄遊玩機會、犧牲睡眠時間；父母們沒有盡心盡力地培植、不斷地鼓勵（有時得威脅：），並不辭辛勞地接送往返，他們就不會有今天。如果他們沒有共同的目標，不願意與人合作、彼此傾聽、互相幫補，只想表現自我，也就不能共同演奏出偉大的交響樂章。這不就和我們基督徒的生活與生命一樣嗎？
流淚撒種的、必歡呼收割。那帶種流淚出去的、必要歡歡樂樂的帶禾捆回來。-- 詩篇126：5-6
要作完全人．要受安慰．要同心合意．要彼此和睦．如此仁愛和平的 神、必常與你們同在。-- 哥林多後書13：11
Monday 4:30pm, I am sitting in the Bauman Auditorium of George Fox University watching the members of Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra coming in from the side door getting ready for the evening concert. PYP is claimed the best youth orchestra in this area. This orchestra consists of 60-70 young musicians (from eighth grade to college age) from many different places like Eugene, Salem, Portland, and Vancouver WA, they rehearse in the evenings of every Monday and Saturday. Watching them playing together, I can't stop thinking that without the perspiration and perseverance of these young people and their parents, there will be no PYP. Had they not given up their free time (sometimes sleep time too) practicing since their young age, had their parents not encouraged (or sometime threatened) them to do their best and transported them between places, they wouldn't be sitting on stage today. If they wouldn't listen to each other, follow the conductor's lead, and only want to show off their own techinques, they would not be able to produce the great music as a team. Isn't this the same as our lives as Christian?
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. -- Psalm 126:5-6
Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. -- 2 Corinthians 13:11
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