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經文：「似乎憂愁，卻是常常快樂的。」（林後6:10） 憂愁是美麗的，她的美麗是月光的美麗，她的歌聲好似夜鶯的鳴聲，她的目光帶著憂鬱的神情。她能夠與哀哭的人同哭，卻不能與快樂的人同樂。 快樂是美麗的，他的美麗是夏晨的美麗，他的目光含有兒時的歡笑，他的髮際閃著日光的輕吻。他的歌聲就像百靈鳥鳴唱翱翔於雲端，他的腳步如同未曾嘗過敗績的得勝者。他能夠與快樂的人同樂，卻不能與哀哭的人同哭。 憂愁沉思著說：「看來，我們是絕不可能合作了。」 快樂也回答說：「是呀，絕不能了。我的道路是在充滿陽光的草場上，玫瑰為我盛開芳香的花朵，山鳥和畫眉也為我唱歡樂的情歌。」 憂愁徐徐轉身說道：「我的道路是在滿佈黑暗的森林中，我所擁有世上最甜蜜的詩歌，卻是深夜的情歌；再會了，快樂，再會。」 當他們說話時，忽然察覺有人站在他們旁邊；雖然看不清楚是誰，卻知道是一位君王，於是他們非常敬畏地跪倒在祂面前。 憂愁輕聲說道：「我看祂一定是快樂的王，因為祂頭上戴著冠冕，手上和腳上帶著得勝的釘痕。若是到祂面前，一切的憂愁都會化作永不止熄的愛和喜樂，我願意把自己奉獻給祂。」 快樂低聲說道：「你錯了，憂愁，我看祂是憂愁的王，祂頭上戴著的冠冕是荊棘的冠冕，手上和腳上帶著的釘痕是痛苦的傷痕。我也願意把自己永遠奉獻給祂，因為有祂同在的憂愁一定比我所知道的快樂更加甘甜。」 於是他們同聲歡呼地說：「這樣，我們在祂裏面成為一體，只有祂能將快樂和憂愁合而為一。」 他們就手牽著手跟隨著祂同行世間；有時在風雨中，有時在陽光中，有時在凜冽的冬日，有時在溫暖的夏日；一路上「似乎憂愁，卻是常常快樂的。」--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10). Sorrow was beautiful, but her beauty was the beauty of the moonlight shining through the leafy branches of the trees in the wood, and making little pools of silver here and there on the soft green moss below. When Sorrow sang, her notes were like the low sweet call of the nightingale, and in her eyes was the unexpectant gaze of one who has ceased to look for coming gladness. She could weep in tender sympathy with those who weep, but to rejoice with those who rejoice was unknown to her. Joy was beautiful, too, but his was the radiant beauty of the summer morning. His eyes still held the glad laughter of childhood, and his hair had the glint of the sunshine's kiss. When Joy sang his voice soared upward as the lark's, and his step was the step of a conqueror who has never known defeat. He could rejoice with all who rejoice, but to weep with those who weep was unknown to him. "But we can never be united," said Sorrow wistfully. "No, never." And Joy's eyes shadowed as he spoke. "My path lies through the sunlit meadows, the sweetest roses bloom for my gathering, and the blackbirds and thrushes await my coming to pour forth their most joyous lays." "My path," said Sorrow, turning slowly away, "leads through the darkening woods, with moon-flowers only shall my hands be filled. Yet the sweetest of all earth-songs--the love song of the night--shall be mine; farewell, Joy, farewell." Even as she spoke they became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a Kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him. "I see Him as the King of Joy," whispered Sorrow, "for on His Head are many crowns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever." "Nay, Sorrow," said Joy softly, "but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great agony. I, too, give myself to Him forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy that I have known." "Then we are one in Him," they cried in gladness, "for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow." Hand in hand they passed out into the world to follow Him through storm and sunshine, in the bleakness of winter cold and the warmth of summer gladness, "as sorrowful yet always rejoicing." ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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