Rediscover old dreams and show new life
2009 Houston Word Ministry Training Camp Experience Notes
Life in North America is dull and mechanical. Living in this English-speaking country seems to allow me to ignore the dream I once had with peace of mind: to swim in the vast ocean of literature to my heart's content, to learn from the best of other writers, and to become a eloquent scholar who is knowledgeable about the past and the present. , A writer who is comfortable with words! But the ideal seems to be locked into my distant memory and sealed together with the time of youth.
In real life, every time I pick up a Chinese book, it only lasts for three minutes. I wonder if what I am doing is unrealistic? Human beings live in the world, stars change, flowers bloom and fall, year after year, day after day, in this English-speaking country, wouldn't it be good to read and speak English and adapt to the needs of society? Why put pressure on yourself? Isn’t it also a state of being relaxed, happy, plain and tranquil?
Open up a new world
"Literature Camp"—this new term that I have just become familiar with in a few days; I participated in this short-term training course for only three days, led by Pastor Su Wen'an, the pastor of literature, and a new world opened up before my eyes! Colorful and full of vitality! It makes me reflect on my current life, and it also gives me a surge of strength like a spring tide. It makes me believe that: I, an engineer without much literary background; a person who has not written a letter home for more than ten years; a person who has given up Chinese and forgotten how to write many Chinese characters, can also regain his old dream! Let the dream be released freely from the sealed memory, give it a pair of wings, and let it fly in the vast blue sky of literature! What kind of state should this be?
I hope, I daydream... What are my advantages? Where is the feasibility? What can I do?
Apart from the accumulation and precipitation of many years of life, there are almost no advantages to talk about. But I believe in the short article "Collecting Yesterday" by Mr. Yu Qiuyu included in the camp handout: "You actually already have the best life mentor, and that is yourself." Let me break down my own understanding and experience of life. I crushed it up, kneaded it into the story I wrote, and then mixed it with different colors from different eras to add color to the background. It may be bright, dim, elegant, or pure. It will definitely be a unique and good work.
Looking for a place to use
Looking back on my growth process, it feels like I am reading a book. It is a very special book. Because it allows me to see myself in pictures, sometimes clearly, sometimes blurry, sometimes gratified, sometimes sighing! Although it is not spectacular, it is still vivid in my mind. From the enthusiasm and simplicity of youth; to the depth and stability of middle age; from selfishness and willfulness to generosity and tolerance; from only knowing plainness and tranquility to reflecting on life; from a little woman to a big woman; from only blaming others to pleading guilty. Repent of yourself; from an atheist to a believer who accepts Christ as the Savior, everything is reflected in the picture of his life for decades.
Just like Mr. Su Wen'an's famous saying: "Workers come before work, authors come before works, sincerity is better than everything else!" With these personal feelings and rational thinking, I believe that I will have a deeper understanding of the needs of all kinds of people in our society. , listen to their voices. I don’t expect to be a canary in the cultural field, but I hope to have my own place to use it!
What to offer to God?
Equip yourself with these thoughts and considerations, be willing to pay, work tirelessly, squeeze out time, and put it into action, and the conclusion is that it is feasible. I used to not cherish time so much that I even thought that time was my own and was meant to be squandered by me. But sadly, human growth always comes at the expense of denying oneself! I often sigh, how wonderful it would be if we could turn back time, if life could go back to the past, and be in full bloom! But I have never thought about it, if such a miracle really happens, will I repeat the original trajectory, will I make the same mistakes again?
If what we do today is just a replica of yesterday, is that a blasphemy against life? Is that a waste of life? Just as Teacher Su Wen'an's parents encourage their children: "Life is a gift given to us by God, and how we use life is a gift we dedicate to God." I will strive to give a satisfactory gift to God!
Play the song of life
Do literature ministry to spread God’s words and will more widely, deeper and longer. On my desk is Joel. Osteen's new book, Become a Better You (Joel Osteen), is one of my favorite Christian self-study books. Speaking of which, this book was given to me by my husband. My husband is not a Christian and has never bought a book for me. He only values this book. This shows the importance of the written ministry.
This writing camp made me understand that the journey of life is like sailing on the sea. The sea is sometimes calm and sometimes rough. And God’s words are like the compass on a ship, which keeps us from losing our way on the boundless sea; God’s words are like the beacon lights flashing on the shore, guiding us to find the way home in the dark night with lightning and thunder… and I want to use my pen and my heart to praise God’s words, praise God’s power, and play the song of my life with all kinds of “instruments”!
Every era has its glory, every life has its splendor! I believe that with God’s words, God’s love, and God’s grace, our lives will be richer and more exciting!