在我成長的那個具有歷史的城市，紀念碑是一個重要部分。在美國路易斯安那州的紐奧良市，指引方位往往與著名的紀念碑有著關聯。作為方向的輔助工具，這些紀念碑被認為是城市和居民的寶貴資產之一。然而，更重要的是，它們不斷提醒當地市民他們有豐富的遺產。

在第一次訪問美國首都華盛頓特區，並且看到最著名的紀念碑後，我就去了美國海軍官校報到，在那裡有很多的紀念碑，紀念海軍和海軍陸戰隊最著名的戰役和勇敢的領袖。然而今天看到許多代表我們國家豐富歷史的紀念碑，被移除和拆毀，我真的感到很難過。

有些人似乎認為，移除一些承載著黑暗和動盪時期記憶的紀念碑，好像就可以改變歷史。這種情況在其他一些國家也發生過，像是企圖掩蓋或改寫歷史，而不是從歷史發生的好事和壞事裡，從中學習。

在國家級的紀念碑被拆掉的同時，有些人似乎也在試圖建立自己個人的紀念碑。不一定是花崗岩、金屬或其他材料的紀念碑，但仍然是他們個人成功的紀念碑。這些 「紀念碑」可能是豪宅、公司、銀行賬戶或其他物質財富、繁榮或權力的標誌。

當人們把他們的時間、才能和財富花在這些誘人的紀念碑上時，他們的「成功」，往往是以犧牲關係作為代價的。他們不是累積回憶，而是專注於建立紀念碑。但上面也提到，紀念碑是可能被拆毀和破壞的。

回顧我們的生活，我的妻子和我意識到，我們最大的樂趣是和三個孩子一起度過的時光。由於他們所在的地理位置有些分散，我們能夠定期見面的唯一方式是通過每週日的 Zoom視訊，這是我們一週當中最高興的時刻。我不記得有哪一次不以回憶為重點。 紀念碑是沒有意義的，但回憶是無價的。

根據聖經，只有兩樣東西是永恆的：人和神的道。如果選擇只考慮短暫，我們可以浪費時間、才能和財富來建造紀念碑。但如果選擇永恆，我們的時間最好花在建立不能被拆毀的回憶上。

當我回顧自己的生命歷程時，我發現愉悅的回憶都是以關係為中心。聖經也可以說是與上帝關係的書 – 祂與祂的選民的關係，以及祂希望我們如何互相維繫關係。耶穌也清楚地表明了這一點。「內中有一個人是律法師，要試探耶穌，就問他說： 「夫子，律法上的誡命，哪一條是最大的呢？」耶穌對他說：「你要盡心、盡性、盡意愛主－你的上帝。這是誡命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相倣，就是要愛人如己。」（馬太福音22章35-39節）在這裡，耶穌總結了兩種最重要的關係：我們與上帝的關係，以及我們與身邊人的關係。

因此，你的思維是短暫的或是永恆的？你是在建造紀念碑或是累積回憶？

威廉“弗里茨”克倫普曾是美國海軍的一名資深飛行員，也在越戰期間服役；曾任職於達美航空公司飛行員、房地產主管，也曾擔任過 CBMC的同工 。

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考以下的經文：

傳道書4章9-12節
4:9 兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。
4:10 若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。
4:11 再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人獨睡怎能暖和呢？
4:12 有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。
以賽亞書43章4節
43:4 因我看你為寶為尊；又因我愛你，所以我使人代替你，使列邦人替換你的生命。
馬可福音3章13-14節
3:13 耶穌上了山，隨自己的意思叫人來；他們便來到他那裏。
3:14 他就設立十二個人，要他們常和自己同在，也要差他們去傳道，
提摩太後書2章2節
2:2 你在許多見證人面前聽見我所教訓的，也要交託那忠心能教導別人的人。
帖撒羅尼迦前書2章6-12節
2:6 我們作基督的使徒，雖然可以叫人尊重，卻沒有向你們或向別人求榮耀；
2:7 只在你們中間存心溫柔，如同母親乳養自己的孩子。
2:8 我們既是這樣愛你們，不但願意將上帝的福音給你們，連自己的性命也願意給你們，因你們是我們所疼愛的。
2:9 弟兄們，你們記念我們的辛苦勞碌，晝夜做工，傳上帝的福音給你們，免得叫你們一人受累。
2:10 我們向你們信 主的人，是何等聖潔、公義、無可指摘，有你們作見證，也有上帝作見證。
2:11 你們也曉得，我們怎樣勸勉你們，安慰你們，囑咐你們各人，好像父親待自己的兒女一樣，
2:12 要叫你們行事對得起那召你們進他國、得他榮耀的上帝。

反省與問題討論

1. 最近有一些人認為，代表歷史上不好時期的歷史遺跡，要被移除或毀壞的做法，請說明你的想法？
2. 有些觀點認為「紀念碑 」有不同的形式，如建立企業、累積大量物質財富、建立個人顯赫地位和其他成就。你是否發現自己也正在這樣做，或是渴望這樣做？請解釋一下你的答案。
3. 一個人要怎麼做才能將他或她的注意力從建造紀念碑轉移到創造和發展回憶上？你是否同意回憶是一個值得追求的目標？為什麽？請解釋你的答案。
4. 當你思想曾經有過的或現在的關係時，哪些關係對你來說是最重要的？與神建立牢固的關係會如何影響我們與人的關係的形式和品質？

MONUMENTS OR MEMORIES?

By Fritz Klumpp 

Monuments were a critical part of the historic city I grew up in. Directions in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. were often given to correlate with well-known monuments. Being directional aids became one reason these monuments were considered a valuable asset to the city and its residents. Even more important, however, they were constantly reminding local citizens of their rich heritage. 

After visiting the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C. for the first time and seeing its most famous monuments, I reported to the U.S. Naval Academy where enumerable monuments commemorate some of the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ most famous battles and courageous leaders. It truly saddens me today to see so many of the monuments representing our nation’s rich history being removed and torn down.

It seems there are some who hold the belief that by removing monuments, some of which carry memories of dark and troubling times, they can somehow change history. This is happening in some other countries as well, in a vain attempt to cover up or rewrite history rather than to learn from it, good or bad.

While national monuments are being destroyed, it appears that some people are trying to build their own personal monuments. These are not necessarily monuments of granite, metal, and other materials, but monuments to their success, nonetheless. Some “monuments” consist of grand estates, while others are defined by companies, bank accounts, or other signs of material wealth, prosperity, or power. 

While men and women are spending their time, talent and treasure on these seductive enticements, their “successes” often come at the sacrifice of relationships. Instead of building memories, they concentrate on building monuments. Ones that, as noted above, can be torn down and destroyed.

Looking back over our lives, my wife and I realize our greatest pleasures are made up of the times we spend with our three children. Since they are geographically scattered, the only way we can meet regularly is via “ZOOM” every Sunday, the highlight of our week. I do not recall a single time that did not focus on memories.  Monuments are meaningless, but memories are priceless.  

According to the Bible, there are only two things that will last forever: people and the Word of God. Choosing to think temporally, we can waste time, talent, and treasure building monuments. Choosing to think eternally, our time is better spent in building memories that cannot be torn down. 

As I reflect on the course of my life, I find that my pleasant memories are all centered on relationships. The Scriptures also can be described as God’s book about relationships – His relationship with His chosen people, as well as how He wants us to relate to one another. Jesus made this clear:

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:35-39). Here He summed up the two most important types of relationships: our relationship with God, and then our relationship with our fellow man.

So, are you thinking temporally or eternally? Are you building monuments or memories?

© 2023. William “Fritz” Klumpp served as a pilot with the U.S. Navy, including numerous combat missions during the Vietnam War, is a former commercial airline pilot, real estate executive, and former Executive Director of CBMC.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. What do you think of the recent practice of removing or even destroying historical monuments that some people consider representative of bad times in history?
2. The idea is expressed that “monuments” can take other forms, such as building businesses, accruing vast material estates, establishing personal prominence and other achievements? Do you find yourself doing that – or aspiring to do so? Explain your answer.
3. How can a person shift his or her focus from monument building to the creation and developing of memories? Do you agree that this is a worthwhile pursuit? Why or why not?
4. When you think about relationships you have had or those you have right now, which have been most important to you? Why? How might having a strong relationship with God affect the types and quality of relationships we have with people?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Isaiah 43:4; Mark 3:13-14; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
• 歲首到年終

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