考慮使用「因此呢…」這個短語──CONSIDER USING THE PHRASE, ‘SO THAT…’
最近，我與一小群本地作家會面，學到了一個似乎值得在許多場合使用的短語。想像一下，與一個剛剛表達了他們的使命宣言的人進行對話，你只需簡單的回應說：「因此呢…？」( 英文是“so that…?”) 然後，耐心地等候他們，對自己所陳述的使命和目的，背後的動機進行更深入的解釋。
作家羅素 • 畢曉普在過去40年中一直使用這種技巧。他用這個突出的問話，指導和訓練了無數的人，挑戰他們去思考，如何將他們的商業或企業經營的更好。他因與企業和團體客戶的合作而聞名國際，我認為他是我見過最睿智和最善良的人之一。
我想挑戰你，為你自己的個人成長，以及你與他人的互動，考慮這個短語：「因此呢，」
無論你是企業主，或只是想要更多地知道，如何能讓這個世界變得更美好，我相信這個短語，對你的生活可能是至關重要的。令我感到驚訝的是，自從知道到這個概念後，「因此呢」這個短語，就經常出現在我的腦海裡。下面是一些例子。
打高爾夫球吧！「因此呢…」50多年來，高爾夫一直是我最喜歡的消遣之一。曾經有一段時間，我的球技相當不錯，但近期我很容易對自己的整體表現感到失望。現在，我計劃增加鍛鍊，甚至偶爾練習，「因此呢…」我就可以更加享受這項運動。此外，我還打算降低我的期望，「因此呢…」我就可以在高爾夫球場上，更加放鬆和自在。這些天，我定意讓我的高爾夫行程，就像在公園裡愉快的散步。
去上班吧！「因此呢…」，在過去的38年裡，我在同一家大公司，勤奮地從事金融服務行業的工作。儘管經歷過許多困難的時期，但我仍然致力照顧我的客戶，為什麽？「因此呢」他們能獲得適當的服務，以保護他們和他們的親人在後頭的生活。多年來我一直知道這一點，但用口頭說明，我們為什麽要做我們所做的事情是很好的，這讓我們能更加理解，自己在工作中的內在動機。對我來說，有一段具體的聖經經文與此直接相關。在歌羅西書3章17節中，使徒保羅勸告他的讀者：「無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父 神。」
去服務他人吧！「因此呢…」。我得出結論，透過與他人的關係，是最能表現我愛主的方式。換句話說，我要服務客戶的需要，因此呢，我的天父，就會因為我把別人放在自己的需要和期望之前而喜悅。取悅神現在是我生命中最重要的目標。思考一下保羅在加拉太書2章20節中宣稱的這些話：「我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活著；並且我如今在肉身活著，是因信 神的兒子而活；他是愛我，為我捨己。」保羅把自己奉獻給了耶穌基督，他專注所做的一切，「因此呢」他能夠榮耀主。
讓我以這個想法來結束這篇文章：兩千年前，神派祂的獨生子來到地上。耶穌基督、是神也是人，在這個世上度過了大約33年，唯一的目的是為我們的罪而死在十字架上，然後被埋葬和復活，「因此呢」我們能夠被帶入與神的關係中，並體驗永生。接受基督進入我們的生活，正如約翰福音1章12節所描述的，是一個簡單的信仰交換。一旦我們這樣做了，它能徹底改變我們每次思考自己正在做的任何事情，「因此呢…?」。
Jim Langley擔任人壽和健康保險經紀人期間已有30多年，他的寫作經歷也是。近年來，他的熱情轉向寫下他與神的個人關係。他的目標是鼓勵其他人來親近神。他是CBMC的長期會員，在2014年開始撰寫「比賽最後四分之一場戰略」
備註：如果你手上有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下面的經文:
(因篇幅有限，請查閱未列出的經文：歌羅西書3:23-25、腓立比書3：10)
約伯記42章1-5節
42:1 約伯回答耶和華說：
42:2 我知道，你萬事都能做；你的旨意不能攔阻。
42:3 誰用無知的言語使 你的旨意隱藏呢？我所說的是我不明白的；這些事太奇妙，是我不知道的。
42:4 求你聽我，我要說話；我問你，求你指示我。
42:5 我從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你。
以賽亞書55章10-11節
55:10 雨雪從天而降，並不返回，卻滋潤地土，使地上發芽結實，使撒種的有種，使要吃的有糧。
55:11 我口所出的話也必如此，決不徒然返回，卻要成就我所喜悅的，在我發他去成就( – 發他去成就：或譯所命定)的事上必然亨通。
約翰福音1章12節
1:12 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄作神的兒女。
以弗所書1章7-10節
1:7 我們藉這愛子的血得蒙救贖，過犯得以赦免，乃是照他豐富的恩典。
1:8 這恩典是上帝用諸般智慧聰明，充充足足賞給我們的；
1:9 都是照他自己所預定的美意，叫我們知道他旨意的奧祕，
1:10 要照所安排的，在日期滿足的時候，使天上、地上、一切所有的都在基督裏面同歸於一。
反省與問題討論
- 你是否想過要清楚地說明，你認為是你自己的，個人或工作使命宣言（或意義宣言）？如果沒有，這會是一個非常好的練習。請說一說你為什麽要做你現在做的工作？
- 一旦你明白了自己的使命宣言，你會如何用「因此呢…」這樣的短語來延伸它？
- 思考一下你最喜歡的消遣、愛好或活動。除了消磨時間之外，你這樣做是為了什麼，「因此呢」？
- 你認為「因此呢…」這個短語，用於計劃、目標和願望是否過份呢？我們是否更需要表達為什麽決定做這些事，做事情背後的動機？請解釋你的答案？
CONSIDER USING THE PHRASE, ‘SO THAT…’
By Jim Langley
Recently, I met with a small group of local writers and was introduced to a phrase that seems worthy of using in many settings. Imagine carrying on a conversation with someone who has just expressed their mission statement and you simply respond with, “so that…?” Then, patiently wait for them to give a much deeper explanation of the motives behind their stated mission and purpose.
Writer Russell Bishop has used this technique for the past 40 years. He has mentored and coached countless people with this salient question to challenge them to consider how they can better run their business enterprises. Bishop is known internationally for his work with corporate and group clients, and I regard him one of the wisest and kindest individuals I have met.
I would like to challenge you toconsider thisphrase, “so that,” for your own personal growth, as well as your interactions with others.
Whether you are a businessowner or just want to improve your awareness of how you can help in making this world a better place, I believe this short phrase can be pivotal for your life. I am amazed at how often the phrase “so that” has conveniently come to my mind since being introduced to this concept. Here are some examples:
Playing golf ‘so that….’ Golf has been one of my favorite pastimes for more than 50 years. There was a time when I was pretty good at the game, but these days I can easily become disappointed with my overall game. Now I am planning to increase my workouts and occasionally even practice – “so that” I can enjoy the game even more. Also, I plan to lower my expectations – “so that” I can be more relaxed and at ease on the golf course. These days I intend for my golf outings to be a nice walk in the park.
Going to work ‘so that….’ For the past 38 years I have diligently worked in the financial services industry with the same major company. There have been many challenging times, yet I remain committed to my clients. Why? “So that” they will be served in a proper way to protect them and their loved ones in the future. I have known this for years, but it is good to verbalize why we do what we do, to better understand our underlying motives in our work. For me, a specific Bible verse relates to this directly. In Colossians 3:17, the apostle Paul exhorted his readers, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Serving others ‘so that….’I have concluded the best way to demonstrate my love for the Lord is through my relationship with others. In other words, I need to serve the needs of my clients so that my Heavenly Father will be pleased as I place others before my own needs and desires. Pleasing God is now the most important goal in my life. Consider these words the Paul declares in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” He was sold out to Jesus Christ – he focused everything he did “so that” he would honor the Lord.
Let me close with this thought: Two thousand years ago, God sent His only Son to earth. Jesus Christ, the God Man, spent approximately 33 years on this earth for the singular purpose of dying on a cross for our sins, then to be buried and resurrected so thatwe might be able to be brought into fellowship with God and experience eternal life! Receiving Christ into our lives, as John 1:12 describes it, amounts to a simple transaction of faith. But once we have done this, it can revolutionize every time we think about whatever we are doing and then consider why – “so that…?”
© 2022, all rights reserved. Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Have you ever considered stating exactly what you believe is your personal or vocational mission statement (or purpose statement)? If not, this would be a very beneficial exercise. Why do you do what you do?
- Once you have articulated a mission statement, how would you expand upon it by responding to the phrase, “so that…”?
- Consider your favorite pastime, a hobby or activity you enjoy. Other than consuming some of your free time, you do it “so that” what?
- Do you think applying the phrase, “so that,” to plans, goals and aspirations is excessive? Should we be able to express why we determine to do things, the motives behind what we are doing? Why or why not?
NOTE: For more about what the Bible says about this topic, consider the following passages: Job 42:1-5; Isaiah 55:10-11; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7-10; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 3:23-25
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