1月2022:《明⽩上帝的旨意、做個智慧⼈！ Understand God’s Will and Be Wise》

你們要謹慎⾏事，不要像愚昧⼈，當像智慧⼈。要愛惜光陰，因為現今的世代邪惡。不要作糊塗⼈，要明⽩主的旨意如何！ ~以弗所書5:15~17

以弗所書是保羅寫給在以弗所的眾教會的勵勉書信，保羅期待上帝的⼦⺠在⽣活中能走在上帝的⼤計劃裡，這計劃就是能『照著上帝所安排的，在時機成熟時，使天上、地上、⼀切所有的，都在基督裡合⼀』。這也是每⼀個基督徒在世上⽣活所要努⼒的⽅向和成就，⽽合⼀，是因為基督的愛，也靠著基督的愛。我們每⼀個⼈都不同，有相似也有差異，要能合⼀不是因為臭氣相投，⽽是因著在主裡合⼀。這也是佳恩教會⽬前的寫照，也在2021年中表露無疑，因為我們合⼀不是因為相同，⽽是因為基督。

以教會⽽⾔，佳恩聯合教會的差異是相當⼤，成員年齡的差異很⼤、⽂化背景的差異很⼤，語⾔的差異很⼤，對信仰禮拜的認知差異更⼤。這許許多多的差異加起來，似乎很難找到⼀個共通交集的地⽅，惟⼀有的，就只有「基督的愛」了。因為我們是⼀群差異很⼤，卻在差異中願意委⾝、彼此接納來跟隨基督的，且願意讓基督的愛來改變我們，好讓我們能彼此接納。就好像教會中的長輩⼀直在不斷地提醒，『要看上帝⽽不是看⼈』，『惟有專注看耶穌，才能讓我們能⼀同走下去』。因為這個世界是分裂的，魔⿁不要我們在主裡合⼀，好把我們各個擊破，但神的美意是善的，要讓我們在這破碎的世代能扺擋惡者的攻擊，依然能站立的住。

對於在溫哥華的我們，2021年是⼀個非常挑戰的⼀年，除了世界性疫情影響⽽封城，改變了許多原有的⽣活習慣之外，暑假的攝⽒50度的⾼溫也破了記錄，⽽森林⼤火造成的空氣、道路封閉的影響也是空前絕後。⽽11⽉份的BC省⼤洪⽔⼜再⼀次造成了交通、經濟和⼈⺠⽣計的損失，所有對外道路包括鐵路和油管都中斷了，讓溫哥華成了⼀座對外斷連的「孤島」。再接下來，12⽉份的⼤雪和低溫也破了記錄，讓氣候適合宜居、原本的避寒勝地再⼀次跌落神壇。如果再加上物價⾼漲、經濟衝擊的話，2021年真的是非常剌激的⼀年。

然⽽，神卻也在這當中顯明了祂的愛，讓我們佳恩聯合教會沒有因為環境⽽落敗，反⽽因在這特別的環境中更顯得上帝恩典的寶貴。我們更加珍惜彼此，也更樂意彼此扶持。我們看到弟兄姊妹在⼈⽣病的軟弱中，彼此扶持，我們也看到在年底教會的義賣中，彼此服事。

我們都是智慧⼈，因為我們在世界與上帝中做了選擇，我們更是有福氣的⼈，因為我們選擇在「愛中合⼀」來代替「彼此競爭」，我們也明⽩上帝的旨意是好的、是善的，更在邪惡世代中，愛惜光陰、珍惜彼此的合⼀，詩篇103:5 『祂⽤美物使你所願的得以知⾜，以致你如鷹返老還童。』，願我們為過去的⽇⼦獻上感謝，更在將來的⽇⼦，求主帶領前⾏。

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Ephesians is Paul’s letter of encouragement to the church of Ephesus. Paul expects God’s followers to live in His plan, “as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth,” which is what every Christian is working towards and strives to live in this world. Unity is where Jesus’ love is and is what we rely on. We are all different, and we unite not for being evil but in the body of Christ. Unity defines the Amazing Grace United Church. In 2021, it showed that we joined not because we’re all the same but because of Jesus.

The difference among members of the Amazing Grace United Church is very prominent. We vary in age, cultural background, language and perception towards worship. It isn’t easy to find a place where we meet in common with the accumulation of contrasts. But there is one, and it is Jesus’ love. Despite the significant distinctions, we’re willing to commit and accept each other to follow Christ, and we are eager to let the love of Christ change us for more acceptance. It’s like the senior members in the church are constantly reminding us, “It depends on God, not the people”, “Only by focusing on Jesus can we go on together”. Because this world is divided, demons try to break us apart by disunity. But we can resist the attack of the evil in this broken world and stand strong thanks to God’s kindness and goodwill.

2021 for us in Vancouver was very challenging. Besides lockdowns due to the pandemic that had changed our lives, BC had broken the record of the hottest temperature in summer, which caused wildfires and air pollution and road closure that was unprecedented. In November, the floods had crippled the traffic flow in and out of Vancouver, which severely damaged the streets and lives of the affected areas and the local and national economy, leaving Vancouver a helpless island. Visited by a rare winter storm in December, Vancouver was hit by heavy snows and a record-smashing low temperature, falling off its reputation of mild weather and the best place to live. Not to mention the price jumps and economic recession, 2021 was indeed an exciting year.

However, God also revealed His love in all those challenges. The Amazing Grace United Church did not fail due to the difficult times but thrived in the grace of God. We cherish and are more willing to support everyone. We have seen our brothers and sisters taking care of each other amid illness and weakness and helping each other out during the charity sale at the end of the year.

We are all wise, for we’ve chosen God over the world. We are also fortunate because we selected to replace “competing with one another” with “unity in love”. We understand that the will of the Lord is kindness and cherish each other’s company in unity even in the age of evil. Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:5) We are thankful for the days in the past, and in the days to come, may the Lord lead us forward.

11月2021:《永恆！Eternity!》

草必枯乾，花必淍謝，惟有我們上帝的話永遠立定！ ~以賽亞書40:8

Calvin Klein 有一款經典是男女香水的代表作，1988年所發行的「Eternity 永恆」，它是當年Calvin Klein先生送給當時助理，也是第二任妻子Kelly的新婚禮物，從香水到仿十字架造型瓶身中，象微著至死不渝的愛情。這香水不但是個經典暢銷商品，也讓一個簡單清新、如同初戀時在心中的淺淺悸動，一代一代的傳講下去。「永恆」，是許多人想要追求超越一代生命的長度卻不容易尋到的目標，有人想留名，有人想留命，也有人想留功績。

一個男孩和女孩的相戀故事，可能會感動許多同樣在愛情中追尋快樂的人，用一切方法，求功、求名，求財富，想要在物質中豐富有餘，在忙與盲中為自己留下一個舒適圈，好讓自己老了以後能高枕無憂。這不只是追求一時的愛情，更是要追求一輩子的幸福，不但接受生活的考驗，也要在兩人不同觀念與習慣中不斷磨合；更重要的是這份幸福必須一起走過，一起到老，才能從一時的快樂，成就到一生的幸福，而要在這過程中，依然維持生命的熱情，這才是最不容易的事，卻也是大家都想追求的事。

我們以為，人生就是在不斷地追求「流行」的喜好，就可以不斷地維持住人的熱情，我們以為不斷地抓住美麗的瞬間，就能把我們裝飾的更美麗。不斷地追求流行，會讓我們疲憊，而美麗的瞬間，卻可能瞬間失去。年輕人喜歡追尋流行手機，在擁有過幾隻手機後，手機最終只是工具。有人喜歡追求美食，嘗盡美食之後，可能酒足飯飽、新鮮感不再，而失去興趣，甚至過頭之後，醫藥伺候。一時的快樂無法成就一生的幸福，而一生的幸福必需建立在永恆的價值上。

今天這款「Eternity 永恆」的香水依然暢銷，但Calvin Klein 和Kelly的婚姻在二十年後就走到了盡頭。人的愛情不盡都美好，也有幻滅的時刻。人的幸福，大家都想，卻不是人人可以享受得到的。你的人生追求什麼？你所依靠的夠不夠長久，地球會暖化、環境會改變，但只有神的應許永不改變。草必枯乾，花必淍謝，惟有我們上帝的話永遠立定！當我們看到美麗的景物隨著四季運轉而變化時，才了解到，只有背後的造物主在永恆中所立定的根基永不改變。人謹此一生，只有為主工作永揚溢，只有這一次的機會，失去就不再來，願我們每一個人都能尋到生命的終極價值，不只值得，更加耀眼美麗。

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The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8

Eternity is a fragrance introduced in 1988 by Calvin Klein. It was inspired by a wedding gift he bought for his second wife, Kelly, his assistant at the time, as a tribute to Calvin Klein’s eternal love for his wife and family. Eternity and its cross-shaped packaging tell the story of love shared over a lifetime. This perfume is a best-selling product, and a classic symbol passed down year by year, reminding people of the fresh, innocent first love. “Eternity” is a goal that many people pursue beyond the length of life but is hard to find. Some people want to keep fame, many want to elongate a life, and others need achievements.

The love story of a boy and a girl may touch many people who seek pleasure in love, who also use all methods to seek merit, fame, and wealth. They want to be rich in material and build a comfortable zone in the busy and blind world, so they can rest relaxed when they are old. Love is not just the pursuit of temporary passion but also a lifetime of happiness. You accept life’s tests and constantly adapt to the two different minds and habits; more importantly, you must go through joy and grow old together. That’s how you turn the temporary into eternity. And in this process, it’s not easy to maintain enthusiasm, but it is what everybody wants.

We believe we can keep the passion by constantly pursuing whatever is popular. We think that seizing beautiful moments can decorate our appearance to others. However, the pursuit of fashion will eventually tire us out, and the beautiful moment may be lost in an instant. Young people want to possess the newest mobile phones. After owning a few, they realize phones are just tools. Some people like to taste delicious food. They may lose interest when they’re too full of food and wine. And if they consume too much, they might need medical care. One moment of pleasure cannot lead to a lifetime of joy, and everlasting happiness must be based on eternal values.

Today, despite the Eternity perfume being popular, Kelly and Calvin Klein’s marriage has come to an end after 20 years. Love is not always beautiful. It has its bad times too. Everyone wants happiness, but not everyone can enjoy it. What do you pursue in life? If you rely on eternity, the climate will change, and so will the environment. Only God’s promises never change. The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. When we see the scenery changing with the seasons, we realize that only the root established by the creator in eternity shall never change. We have one life, and this is the only opportunity that we get to work for the Lord. I hope that each of us can find the ultimate value of life, not only make worth of it but make it more dazzling and beautiful.

10月2021:《尋求幸福！Seeking Happiness!》

你必將生命的道指示我，在你面前有滿足的喜樂，在你右手有永遠的福樂！~詩篇16:11

每個人在世上都在找出路，為要得著美地，尋得幸福!

孩子要找東西玩！學生要往好學校去！工作要找好老闆，藍海市場、甚至是創新好點子！尤其是在動盪、不確定的時代，找對了路，人生成功了一半，找錯了路，要付出更多的代價。社會環境的改變，使生活成了不容易的一件事，看似時代進步、經濟發達，事實上人們卻必須花更多的時間在找出路，或是讓自己的生活更美好。也許我們不承認我們需要找出路，但找到美好幸福的慾望卻從來不曾少過。

聖經中耶穌有一個大宴席的比喻，說到有人擺設了宴席要請許多賓客光臨，但是這些賓客卻都有自己的事而不克出席，有的買了地，增加了資產，有的買了牛，增加了生財工具，有的娶了老婆而春風得意，不同人卻都因為自己在人生得時得志的時刻，而不在乎上帝國的恩典，以致於主人生氣，就去請了原本不在名單上的人，連沒有資格被邀請的人都可以進來。我們一直都在用自己的方法在世界找出路，用自己的努力來達到自己人生的目的，但努力到最後卻錯過了那些原本就要給我們的福份，反而失去了更大的祝福。然而對於那些可憐的人們而言，因貧窮而摸不著幸福的人、因殘疾而沒有能力得著幸福的人，或是無法看見幸福的人身上，他們卻因神的邀請而得著了幸福。

在耶穌的比喻中，名單上的賓客是猶太人，在街上被邀請的人是外邦人。而在我們的世界中，名單上的是基督徒，而在街上被邀請的人是非基督徒。有許多在家庭中的幾代基督徒失去了立志跟隨主的初衷，而迷失在豐富的恩典之中。而有許多人為了信耶穌，而必須冒著生命危險，離開原有家人與朋友，為了信仰付上為了信仰付上許多代價。有一句台灣話說：『一代清、二代明、三代霧霧嘸明、四代你請我嘸閒。』就是在描述基督徒在豐富恩典中失去了起初的信仰。

幸福在那裡？這是我們每一個想尋找的，也許我們窮盡一生的力氣、經過許多的痛苦，一直到最後才發現，幸福原來很簡單。用單純的心來追求神的旨意，會強過心機下的自私自慾。來到神面前得著的安息，也勝過追逐金錢得著的驕傲。願我們都能在神的面前找著滿足的喜樂與永遠的福樂！

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You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

Everyone is looking for a way to get to a beautiful place and find joy.

Children are to find something interesting to play with. Students are to aim for a good school. Adults want a decent job, a good boss and to come up with creative ideas or even some blue ocean strategy. In an era of turbulence and uncertainty, people are halfway to success when they’re on the right track, but they have to pay more if they choose the wrong path. Life is not easy with the changes in the social environment. It seems like our society is advancing, and the economy is developing. However, people are spending more time looking for their path or making life better. We may not admit that we need a way out, but the desire to find pleasure has never decreased.

Jesus has told the Parable of the Great Banquet, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for dinner, the host sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ So, the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'” We have all tried to find the way to achieve life goals with our efforts but have missed the fortunes that were meant for us and have lost the greater blessings. However, for the poor, those who can’t enjoy life due to poverty or disability received happiness from God’s invitation.

In the parable, the initially invited are the Jews, and the new guests are the Gentiles. In our world, those on the list are Christians, and those invited on the street are non-Christians. Generations of some Christian families have forgotten their original intention to follow the Lord and are lost in the abundance of grace. Many had to risk their lives, leave their family and friends, and pay a lot for their faith to believe in Jesus. There’s an old saying in Taiwanese describing the loss of the original faith in the rich grace of Christians, “First-generation is the clear-minded, second is the well-known, third is the foggy, and the fourth is the never bother.”

Where is the happiness that everyone wants to find? Maybe it takes all our strength and a lot of pain to find out that joy is simple. It’s easier to follow God’s will with a pure heart than being driven by a selfish desire. It’s better to rest in God’s blessings than chasing the pride of owning money. May we all find satisfying joy and eternal pleasure in the presence of God.

9月2021:《美麗的世界？A Beautiful World》

不要效法這個世界，祇要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意！ ~羅馬書12:2

上帝創造的這個世界，原本是很美好的！

創世記中有二個創造世界的故事，第一個故事中，上帝分別在第一日到第六日有了不同的創造、分別了日與夜、分別了天與水、劃分地與海、定下時令與季節、造出不同生物、創造了人—世界的管理者。在這不同的創造過程中都有一個共同點就是，「上帝看為好的」。而在最後一日，第七日中，完成了造物之工，安息了、停了，分別為聖並且賜福這一日。這安息與賜福，也是七日創造的一部分。

在第二個創造的故事中，是以人為中心的創造故事，上帝用塵土造人、吹了氣，成了「有靈的活人」。設置園子安置，有食物，更有生命樹和分別善惡的樹。更為了獨居的人造了一個配偶，讓那人為各樣的動物取名。這一切都是美好的。

當「人類」做為一個管家來治理世界時，是一項非常有價值有意義的工作，而「人類」也享受其中並且運用聰明才智發展出許多的美好的管理系統，這讓許多人得著益處，也更讓人享受在美好的世界之中。人們可以按照自己的意思來管理，人們也在管理的過程中得到好處並且享受其中，除了發掘大自然的寶藏，在自然與美景之中看見神奇妙的作為，也在人與人的良善中互相幫助、成為伴侶，用愛和溫柔彼此對待，使人的社會更加美好。

但是雖著時間的演進，資源愈來愈有限，人的慾望卻愈來愈大，人們開始用不同的方法和手段來達到自己的目的，人與人相處開始有磨擦、壓力也愈來愈大，挑戰增加、難度增加、誘惑增加、忌妒增加、最後連貪心也增加了，這世界負面的情緒開始變多，使人離開原本的平靜與和協，人從滿足轉而貪婪、這世界變了，從一個讓人享受的世界，成為一個讓人受苦的世界。然而，我們一定在這世界受苦嗎？

上帝所賜給我們的恩典裡，還很重要的一樣，就是自由意志。我們可以選擇要走什麼樣的路，也可以選擇成為什麼樣的人！我們可以跟著這世界的方向走世界的路，但也可以選擇回到上帝創造這世界單純的方式。也許有人認為人心太單純無法應付這詭詐的世界。但是神己經透過聖經啟示我們這世界最後的結局，我們需要的是心存盼望、警醒自己，等候主再來的日子，更新心意，好看到世界的美好，因為上帝的旨意本是良善的，是要世人在神的美好創造中見證上帝的榮耀。

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Do not conform to the pattern of this world. but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good. pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

There are two stories about the creation of the world in Genesis. In the first one, from day 1 to day 6, God made different creations, day and night, sky and water, land and vegetations, time and seasons, living creatures of land and sea, and mankind, who rule over all the others. There is one thing in common in the creation process, and it is God saw that it was good. By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day, he rested. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The rest and the blessings are also part of God’s creation.

The second story focuses on the creation of mankind. The Lord God formed a man from the dust on the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. God planted a garden and made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree that bears the knowledge of good and evil. God formed all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. Everything was perfect.

It is a precious and meaningful job for humankind to rule over the rest of the world. Human beings enjoy it and use their wisdom to develop helpful management systems, allowing more people to enjoy the beautiful world. People can manage according to their own will and benefit from and enjoy it in the managing process. In addition to discovering and appreciating the treasures of nature, humans brought out the best of themselves to help each other, become partners, treat each other with love and tenderness, and make the world a better place.

However, as time goes on, resources are consumed and getting scarcer, but people’s desires grow. People started to use different means to achieve their personal goals. Stress and conflict stepped into relationships, making them more challenging, demanding, and jealous and greedy. Negativity grew and drove people away from peace, harmony and contentment, leaving them with increasing cravings. The world has changed from an enjoyable perfection to a place where people suffer. However, must we suffer in this world?

One of the most important grace God blesses us with is free will. We can choose which path to take, and what kind of person we become. We can follow the flow of the materialistic world, or we can choose to return to the simple world God created. Some people may think that the human heart is too simple to cope with this complicated world. But God Himself has revealed the end of our world through the Bible. All we need to do is to have faith and remind ourselves of the date the Lord returns. We shall refresh our mind and see the beauty of our world, because God’s will is good, and it is for the world to witness God’s glory in His beautiful creation.

Dear friends, what would you choose? How do you reopen your mind so that you can see God’s pure and good will? May we return to our original love and let God create the beauty and glory of this world!

8月2021:《你求什麼？What Do You Pray For?》

你們要先求祂的國和祂的義，這些東西都要加給你們了！~馬太福音6:33

美國在二十世紀初，為了保護黃石公園中的馬鹿，而大量獵殺公園裡的狼，說是為了保護，也是為了毛皮所帶來的經濟利益。1926年，野生灰狼幾乎從黃石公園中消失，而意想不到的是，沒有天敵的馬鹿，數量爆增，到處啃食樹苗，竟然使許多森林變成荒地，破壞了原本的生態與地貌。於是在1995年，決定重新引入狼群，把14隻狼放生到黃石公園。狼群開始獵殺馬鹿，又再一次改變了公園內的生態，馬鹿開始躲避狼群，遷移到更安全的山谷和樹林，在這6年期間，馬鹿離棄的荒地重新長出樹木，森林增長5倍，茂盛的森林引來更多的鳥類和動物，原本滅絕的動物也回來了，狼群帶來了連鎖反應，超過原本的想像。甚至連河川流動的方式也改變了，從急流變緩流，重新帶來了水的生態，減少了水土流失，又變清潔了，滅絕的河狸回來了，魚群回來了，又提供了更多的食物和棲息地，黃石公園又成了野生動物的繁殖生態系統，14隻狼改變了一切。一百多年的歲月和付出了無法計算的成本，一切回到原點。

每一個人的心中都有一個想要追求的目標來達到人生幸福的境界，我們相信這些目標的達成是對我們有利的，非凡的收入帶來財富和高物質的享受，工作上的成就達到自我實現和令人羡慕的名聲，為了成功所使用的手段改變了我們單純的心，甚至是改變了我們的價值觀和看世界的方式，我們忽略了在追求成功的過程中我們失去了什麼，改變了什麼，我們以為我們朝著幸福前進，卻不知道成功與幸福不一定是同一路的。我們可能在成功的事業與成就中與幸福擦身而過，或是當我們擁有物質的幸福後再來追求無形的心靈滿足。然而當我們的心被追求成功與自身利益給填滿時，我們忽略了我們身旁的一些人，那些原本真心與我們相交的人被我們拋棄了，原本以愛相待的心被我們用價錢來計算衡量了。我們讓人失望卻不自知，傷了人也不在意。我們以為我們在創造自己的利益，卻不知道在眼前的利益下，我們失去更多人性的價值。我們想要用世上的法則來建立自我的成就，只會看到更多的破壞而己。

我們原本只知道狼群會獵殺動物，但不知道狼群也會給其他動物創造生存機會，黃石公園的生態浩劫不是在科學實驗與研究下以人工的建造方式下恢復的，卻是在放手回歸造物主原本所立的自然法則下恢復的。我們以為我們在保護，其實我們在破壞，我們以為我們在建造，其實是在摧毀。 用我們的眼光所追求的目標，非但沒有達到原來的期待，卻是帶來許多想像不到的破壞。為創造財富，人們建立了經濟體系，股市成就了許多百萬富翁，卻造出了更多破產的失心瘋；都市帶來了許多物質的便利，卻也產生了許多的遊民街友，人們開設了更多華麗的公司，卻讓許多的家庭破碎流離。我們以為我們在建設，其實是沒有看到所帶來的破壞。

如果你要追求真正的幸福，先找到人的幸福法則，再來設立目標，追求財富和物質不是不重要，順序更重要，更不要因此忽略了身邊的人，有時幸福不一定遙遠，也不一定要付出高額代價，一支草、一點露，都有它的美麗與價值，幸福與美滿，必須你看的見，恐怕我們付出了青春和歲月，到頭來，你所追求的，其實就在你身邊。「先求祂的國和祂的義，這些東西都要加給你們了!」

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But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ~Matthew 6:33

In the early twentieth century, many wolves were hunted and killed to protect the red deer in Yellowstone Park. Besides the protection of the deers, the primary purpose was to make a profit out of the fur business. By 1926, wild gray wolves almost disappeared from Yellowstone Park. Unexpectedly, the number of red deers surged, without their natural enemies. They ate up the saplings wherever they went, turning many forests into a wasteland and destroying their original ecology and landform. In 1995, 14 wolves were released to the park. The wolves began to prey on the red deer, which once again changed Yellowstone’s ecosystem. The red deer began to avoid the wolves and migrate to safer valleys and deeper woods. In six years, trees grew back in the wastelands abandoned by those red deer; the forest land increased five times and attracted more birds and animals, including those endangered ones. The wolves brought a chain reaction that exceeded expectations. It even slowed down the water flow, revived the wetland, and significantly reduced soil erosion. The water was cleaner, the beavers are back, the fishes reappeared in the river, and in return, they as a whole provided more food and habitat. Yellowstone Park had become a breeding ecosystem for wild animals, the 14 wolves changed everything. After more than a hundred years and incalculable costs, everything went back to where it had been.

Everyone has a happiness goal to pursue in life, and we believe it’s beneficial when it’s achieved. For example, extraordinary income brings wealth and high material enjoyment, and career success proves self-realization and an enviable reputation. How we pursue success has changed our pure heart, and even our values and how we perceive the world. We ignore what we have lost and changed in the process. We think we are moving towards happiness, but we don’t know that success and joy of heart may go in different directions. We may pass by joy in our successful career and achievements, or we may pursue intangible spiritual satisfaction after achieving material success. However, when hearts are only filled with the pursuit of self-interest, we neglect some of the people around us. Those we connect with are abandoned, and a price tag measures the hearts that used to treat each other with love. We let our people down, but we don’t notice it; We hurt their feelings, but we don’t care. We think we are creating wealth, but what we don’t know is that we are losing more human value under the immediate interests. If we want to use the world’s laws to build only worldly achievements, we will only see more destruction.

We understood that wolves would hunt and kill animals, but little did we know that wolves would create favourable living conditions for other creatures. The ecological setback in Yellowstone Park was not restored by artificial construction under scientific experiments or research but by letting go and returning to the original natural laws of the Creator. We thought we were protecting, but in fact, we were endangering. We thought we were constructing, but in reality, we were destroying.

The superficial goals we pursue not only fails to meet the original expectations, but also brings many unimaginable damages. In order to create wealth, people have established an economic system. The stock market has made millions of millionaires, but it has also created more bankruptcy and broken hearts. The city has brought better material conveniences, but it has also produced a much higher homeless population. People have opened more glorious business, but many families have been shattered and left behind. We thought we were building, but that’s because we overlooked the damage.

If you want to pursue true happiness, first find the law, and then set goals accordingly. It’s not that pursuing wealth and materiality is useless, but knowing the order of prioritization is more important. We should never take people in our life for granted. Happiness is not always far away, and nor should you have to pay a high price for it. A piece of grass and a bit of rain drop both have its beauty and value. Happiness or satisfaction, you must look to be able to see it. We spend years to pursue our goals, and in the end, you realize what you are after has always been yours. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”