阅读经文 

某个礼拜天，我留意到我们的一位年长会友，正静静站在教会的门厅。他的神情虽然显得并不快乐，但他的态度却是友善的。我看得出他面露疲乏和忧虑，他的妻子住在一所记忆力康复中心，而他自己的健康也不甚好。尽管如此，他仍然到教会与其他会友一起礼拜。

我上前跟他握手并问候他：“你好吗？”他淡然回答说：“我想，还过得去吧。”犹豫一下后，他直言不讳说：“任何事情我也不再在乎了。”我惊讶地问他：“任何事情？”

他稍微移动一下身体后，便这样说：“在过去的日子，我喜欢船只、汽车和很多其他的东西，它们令我感到兴奋，可是，现在它们对我已经再没有什么意义了。”

我开始明白到，世俗的物质已经不能取得他的注意力，他心中不再向往拥有这些东西。在妻子失去了与人交往的能力，并且越来越依赖别人照顾她的需要时，他渐渐感受到照料她带来的精力耗损和疲惫。他对生命的看法改变了，物质的重要性降低了，然而，与神、与家人、与教会的关系，对他却是首要的。这位弟兄对于先求神的国和祂的义的意义，有了更深的体会。他在平淡中显露的力量，却能温暖人心。

In the atrium of our church one Sunday, I noticed one of our senior members standing quietly. His face wasn't happy, but it was welcoming. I understood the look of tiredness and concern he showed. His wife was in a memory-care center. His own health was not robust. And yet he was there, at church among the worshipers.

I reached out to shake his hand and asked, "How are you doing?" His less-than-enthusiastic response: "Okay, I guess." After a pause he stated bluntly, "I don't care about anything anymore." Surprised, I asked, "Nothing?"

He shifted a bit and then said, "There was a time when I liked boats and cars and lots of things. I got excited about them. But they don't mean anything to me anymore."

I began to understand. Material things no longer grabbed his attention. Desire for stuff no longer preoccupied him. As his wife lost her ability to relate to others, and as she increasingly depended on others to care for her needs, he had grown to know the wearing and wearying effects of caring for her. His perspective on life had changed. Things decreased in importance, and relationships—with God, with family, with church—became his priority. This brother was learning more deeply the meaning of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. His quiet strength was heartwarming.