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經文：「天將晚，以撒出來在田間默想。」（創24:63） 我們若有更多單獨的時間，就必定有更多屬靈的長進；我們若是能少行動多退修，也必然有更大的工作果效。只是我們常常認為不做事是一種懶惰或羞恥，所以才傾向跑來跑去地瞎忙。其實默想、與神談話、擧目望天的時間，都是對我們最有益的時間。 --- 或說：默想是一種心靈的休息，而我們也確實需要給心靈休息的機會；到那時任何有形的工作都要暫時停止：只是靜靜地躺下，仰望著星空，就像基甸的羊群，在神面前伸展身體，接受從天降下的甘霖。就在那段間歇的時間，不工作，不計算，躺在大自然的懷抱裏，安然休息。 這樣的時間從來不會「太多」，也絕對不是虛耗；就像漁夫坐下補網，割草者坐下磨刀，豈能說他們是虛耗時間？所以我們應該常學學以撒，從熱鬧的生活中出來，到田間去默想。 我們所過的是熱鬧、喧噪、忙碌的生活。有時若能與大自然更多接觸，將會是一件非常暢快的事；田間散步，海邊閒遊，能將我們心中充滿新的喜樂和盼望。--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "And Isaac went out to meditate in the fields at eventide" (Gen. 24:63). We should be better Christians if we were more alone; we should do more if we attempted less, and spent more time in retirement, and quiet waiting upon God. The world is too much with us; we are afflicted with the idea that we are doing nothing unless we are fussily running to and fro; we do not believe in "the calm retreat, the silent shade." As a people, we are of a very practical turn of mind; "we believe," as someone has said, "in having all our irons in the fire, and consider the time not spent between the anvil and the fire as lost, or much the same as lost." Yet no time is more profitably spent than that which is set apart for quiet musing, for talking with God, for looking up to Heaven. We cannot have too many of these open spaces in life, hours in which the soul is left accessible to any sweet thought or influence it may please God to send. "Reverie," it has been said, "is the Sunday of the mind." Let us often in these days give our mind a "Sunday," in which it will do no manner of work but simply lie still, and look upward, and spread itself out before the Lord like Gideon's fleece, to be soaked and moistened with the dews of Heaven. Let there be intervals when we shall do nothing, think nothing, plan nothing, but just lay ourselves on the green lap of nature and "rest awhile." Time so spent is not lost time. The fisherman cannot be said to be losing time when he is mending his nets, nor the mower when he takes a few minutes to sharpen his scythe at the top of the ridge. City men cannot do better than follow the example of Isaac, and, as often as they can, get away from the fret and fever of life into fields. Wearied with the heat and din, the noise and bustle, communion with nature is very grateful; it will have a calming, healing influence. A walk through the fields, a saunter by the seashore or across the daisy-sprinkled meadows, will purge your life from sordidness, and make the heart beat with new joy and hope. ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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