012-03-10
Shine Anyway
March 10, 2012 — by Dave Branon
（轉貼：理念相同，代為傳布，千祈海涵）

如今在主裡面是光明的，行事為人就當像光明的子女。 —以弗所書5章8節
    You are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. — Ephesians
5:8

    老實說，我並不喜歡再來到這家店。這一個月來，我和妻子想要退還一台有
故障的冰箱，來到這家店很多次。當我再與那間店的經理溝通時，我們似乎又走
進一條死胡同。在交談之間，我懷疑再也拿不回退款，但是我仍然盡量保持友善
的態度。

    後來，那位經理說：「像這種情況，通常客戶們會對我大吼大叫，但是你卻
很有耐心。」然後他又說：「讓我們試試其他的方法吧！」他問了我一些問題，
然後在收銀機上按了幾個按鍵，同時和我們說起幾個客戶發怒的故事。幾分鐘後
，收銀機吐出一張退款收據！這台冰箱退款交涉所帶來的惡夢終於結束了。「謝
謝你們這麼好說話。」在我們離去時，經理如此說。

    我想，我在心情欠佳時還能對人友善的態度，在爭取退款的事上起了一些作
用。當然，我們不是為了拿回退款才對人友善，真正的原因是身為基督徒，我們
的行為會反射出耶穌的真理之光（以弗所書 5 章 8 節）。無論對方是暴躁的鄰
居、經常出錯的服務生，或是百貨公司的經理，我們的言語行為都要有美好的見
證（以弗所書 4 章 29-32 節；歌羅西書 4 章 6 節）。你是否正面臨衝突呢？
讓基督的榮光閃耀其間吧！JDB

    To be honest, I wasn 』 t happy to be making another trip to the
store. For the previous 4 weeks, my wife and I had been trying to get
a refund for a bad refrigerator. As I spoke with the manager — again
— it seemed that we were heading down another dead-end road. As we
talked, I wondered if we would ever get our money back, but I tried to
be gracious.

    At one point the manager said, 「 By now, customers are usually
yelling at me, but you 』 ve been so patient. 」 Then he said, 「 Let
』 s try something else. 」 He asked me some questions and punched
some numbers into a cash register. After a short delay — and some
stories about irate customers — the machine spit out a receipt
showing a refund! Our appliance nightmare was over. 「 Thanks for
being so good to work with, 」 he said as we parted ways.

    While I think being nice when I didn 』 t feel nice helped in this
process, getting refunds is not why we should show kindness to others.
The real reason is that as Christians we are to reflect the light of
Jesus (Eph. 5:8) on everyone — whether it 』 s an irate neighbor, a
bumbling waiter, or a department store manager. Our speech and
behavior are to be a positive witness (Eph. 4:29-32; Col. 4:6). Are
you facing a conflict? Let Jesus 』 light shine through.

    身為天國上帝子民，
    就當遵循祂的教導；
    透過我們言行舉止，
    讓人看到主的榮耀。 Sper

    As people of the Lord
    we 』 re called To follow in His way;
    And then all those who watch our lives
    Will see Him on display. —Sper

生命中顯出基督之光，會吸引人們到主身旁。
People are attracted to Christ when you shine His light from your life