Pastor’s Corner Sept 2007 (Pastor Siu)

牧者心聲                                      蕭傳道

 

『蕭先生，你好忙呀！』

可能忙就是我的寫照；中學就參加五六個活動；大學雖然忙於家教，仍然要多讀幾個學分；作研究生時，更不用說了，每天工作十五六個小時。我習慣忙，原因是喜歡多，母親常教導：多一分耕耘，多一份收成。所以後來討個老婆也叫多加，生了一男一女還不夠好，後來又多加一個，共有一子兩女：重信、頌恩、頌怡；反正蕭家陽盛陰衰，女兒是最得寵的。

 

兒女大了，又要多找一些東西填滿時間，每天享受忙中之樂。忙中生亂，忙多錯多；作人老師，學生們有口難言；作人牧師，就不一樣了！如今自己啞口無言，這也是天理吧！

 

我是多嘴的人，言多有錯，也應當學習收斂一點了。2001年夏天，蕭太拉我去參加一個靜修會，會中不可以講話，要學習聆聽，真是難過；人的話不願意聽，怎能聽到神的呢！奇怪，終於聽到了，於是，不敢怠慢，秋季入讀天道；如今仍努力學習聆聽神，聆聽人。

 

不單是聽，連講話都要重新學習，學講那些稱讚和造就人的話；這是苦差，多年來，只會罵兒女、學生，什麼事都是意見濤濤；現在要改，真不容易。感謝神！也謝謝弟兄姐妹，這些年來愛心包容，忠言勸戒；又有老婆在旁，不斷多加幾句囉里囉嗦。請大家繼續代禱忍耐，神還是不斷地在修煉我呢。。。

 

September 2008 Pastor’s Corner

 

By Pastor Chi Hung Siu

“Uncle Siu, you are so busy…”

 

Is this a caricature or my true picture! In my high school days, I tutored several students and still found time to join 5-6 clubs at school. At university, I heaped up courses over courses and I graduated with many extra credits.  As a research student, I spent 15-16 hours a day in the lab so I could publish more.  I am used to a busy life because I like to grab, the more the better.  My mother taught me: work harder and reap more.  So I married a wife whose name in Chinese is “adding on.” We have a boy and a girl.  I wanted more, so now we have one boy and two girls.  After all, girls are rare in the Siu clan and our girls are the gems of the family!

 

The children have grown up.  I need to find more stuff to fill my time.  I enjoy being busy.  But … chaos, mistakes abound in a busy life. As a prof, my voice is always louder.  Things are different now.  As a pastor, I must learn to swallow.  I guess I deserve it ….

 

I like to talk.  Too much talking becomes offensive.  Oh, how much I need to learn to shut up!  In the summer of 2001, Dorcas dragged me to a quiet retreat.  No talking was allowed for hours after hours.  We had to learn to listen.  It was hard!  I was not willing to listen to others, how could I hear God?  Eureka! I heard it and I enrolled at Tyndale without delay.  Until now, I have been learning to listen to God and to people.  

 

Besides listening, I have to learn to say the right thing … words of encouragement and words of edification.  For years, I only knew how to scold my children and reprimand my students. I had ideas unlimited on any subject that one might come up.  It is just hard to change!  So I am grateful for the forbearance of brothers and sisters over the years.  I also have my better half who is never too shy to add on her harsh words of truth, though always given in love. So please continue to pray for me and be patient with me, for God is not finished with me yet …..

 

Please pray for family members who are very sick: Pastor Lee’s mother here, Pastor Siu’s mother-in-law in Taiwan, and Mrs. Liu’s mother-in-law in Hong Kong.