An Intentional Force | 國際勢力
It is so wonderful to be greeted with green trees seen from windows of both ends of the apartment every morning — a rare sight which I cherish as a city girl. Thank you God for trees!!
I have been in Pittsburgh for 6 weeks now, (at this time of writing) and the tranquility and peace here is amazing!! It is a stark contrast to the rhythm of life in Hong Kong. My heart string is no longer pulled by ups and downs of the Heng Sang Index (likened to your Dow Jones Index), or affected by the constant news, live feeds on mega screens of how the 10 most active stocks fared at opening trading, at noon, at closing; which bombard one’s consciousness every way one turn. Anytime you step into a HKG elevator, you can rest assured someone’s finger will be pressing on the “close” button with diligence. We are in a hurry even riding an elevator!!! Yes, everyone in HK rushes about to lunch, rushes to pick the kids up, rushes to the next dinner appointment, rushes to taking a weekend break. The old adage: “Time is MONEY” is replaced by a new one: “both hands are ready”. We wear our badge of busyness with pride and honour.
It’s only when you are away from the country that you would realize THAT existence is surreal!!! Does God intend for us to live in a pressure pot under the world system? Hmmmm …
Somehow, something has to give … because on any given Sunday, there will be a peaceful demonstration in the main thoroughfare of town, from students to retirees protesting about every aspect of life. The anger is raging, something has to give. So our cash-rich government decides to give money. This year, to appease the general public, a $6,000 (US$769) tax rebate will be given to each and every citizen whether you have ever paid tax or not. I am not sure if it will subdue the violence/the inner oppression to cease. (Okay thank you, I will accept the $6,000 with gladness.) Yet, it is futile to look anywhere else for an answer in our predicament.
Our children need parental love, our fresh graduates need hope, the 30-somethings need life partners, the 50-somethings need significance, the seniors need attention. Who will look beyond our skyscrapers, our trimmings of wealth, to the soul of a city that is depraved of security and hope — but you, oh Lord!!!
It brings to my mind this verse from Matthew 11:12, “the kingdom suffers violence, and the violent takes it by force.” We, in Hong Kong, have a challenge to deal with this violent dynamic by overriding it with the real intentional FORCE of prayer and worship. I am feeling the call to prayer and worship for this special season; when the expectancy of upheaval (economic, financial, political) is in the air; when God is shaking all of us individually and corporately to live up to the test. It is as though “the great commission” is about to break open in a massive way.
Oh, how we need you, Jesus. How we need the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, our ever-living Redeemer. We need to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding … being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10) Oh God, make known to us what You want to partner in each one of us. Grace. Grace. Abba daddy, we need your grace!!!
Elizabeth Chow
每天早上起來能夠被公寓兩旁窗戶外的綠樹迎接是多麼美好的事， 這種少見的景象被我這種都市女孩好好地珍惜！為樹木來感謝主！
寫這篇文章時，我已經在匹茲堡六個禮拜了， 這裡的安寧和平氣氛實在是太棒了！跟香港的生活節奏比真是有天壤之別。 我的心弦不再為恆升指數（類似你們的道瓊指數）漲跌而七上八下， 或是被十種最活躍股票開市、中 、收市價錢的消息和大銀幕的直播新聞攪擾心情。無論你走在哪， 轉向哪， 這些事情都砲轟你的意識。 任何時間你走進香港國際機場的電梯， 我保證一定有人努力地將手指壓在“關門”鍵上。 我們即使在搭電梯都很趕！是的， 香港每一個人都趕著去吃午飯， 趕著去接孩子， 趕著去赴下一個晚餐約會， 趕著在週末休息。“時間就是金錢”的這句俗語，已經被“兩隻手都準備好了 ”取代。我們以戴著忙碌的徽章為榮為傲。
只有當你遠離那個國家你才會瞭解那樣的生活很超現實！難道神真的要我們活在當下這個世界制度的壓力鍋裡嗎？
無論如何， 有些事情需要改變， 因為任何一個星期天， 在城市的重要通道上， 都會有和平示威活動， 從學生到退休人員， 對生活中的任何事都可以抗議。 人民的怒氣上昇， 有些事情一定要改變。 所以我們現金很多的政府決定要給錢。 今年， 為了要安撫大眾， 每個市民， 無論付稅與否， 都會拿到港幣六千元 （美金＄769元）的退稅。 我不確定這樣是否會制伏暴力， 或停止內在壓迫。 （謝謝， 我會很高興地接受這六千元）但是， 在我們的這種困境下， 不論從哪裡找答案都是徒然的。
我們的孩子需要父母的愛， 我們的新鮮畢業生需要希望， 三十歲的世代需要伴侶， 五十歲的族群需要意義， 老人們需要注意力。 誰會越過摩天樓，越過財富的裝飾來看到這個城市缺少安全與希望的靈魂？ 只有祢， 主呀！
我想到馬太福音 11 章 12 節： “天國不斷遭受猛烈的攻擊，強暴的人企圖把它奪去。”我們在香港面對這種暴力動態的挑戰， 需要用國際禱告敬拜的勢力來凌駕其上。 當空氣中充滿了動蕩不安（經濟、 財政、政治上）， 當神搖動我們個人及團體所以我們能不負測試， 我感受到為了這個特殊原因而被呼召來禱告敬拜。 就好像“大使命”將以極大的方式來突破。
喔， 耶穌， 我們真需要祢！ 我們多麼需要全能的策士， 和平之君， 我們永活的救贖主。 我們需要 “在一切屬靈的智慧悟性上、滿心知道神的旨意…在一切善事上結果子，漸漸的多知道 神 。“ （歌羅西書1： 9－ 10 ） 喔， 神啊， 讓我們知道祢要如何與我們每一個人同工。 恩典。 恩典。 阿爸天父， 我們需要祢的恩典！！！
Elizabeth Chow
