兩希文化：Hellenistic culture and Hebrew culture，二千年來一直影響著全世界。希臘文明帶來了理性、邏輯和方法論，產生了科學；而希伯來文明帶來了一神敬拜的信仰和由此而產生的基督教。一個是科學，另一個則是靈魂。
以下這封信是Karen給我的第一封信。當時的狀況是，我過分追求事業上的成功，經歷了挫折，心理上產生了鬱抑。同時，我也開始思考一些人生的問題，如究竟什麼樣的人生值得我們去追求？
恰在此時，我認識了Karen，她把我帶進了一個wonderful世界。通過與Karen通信十年，我的英語水平不僅有了一個極大提高，而且還認識了主耶穌。
當我們提及素質教育時，父母們總認為是讓孩子們學習詩、琴、書、畫。以鋼琴為例，若想鋼琴達到一定級別，必須像應試教育那樣反覆練習、考級，所有技能型素質的提升的本質仍然是應試教育，只不過是與數、理、化不同的應試而已。否則，小小年紀的朗朗怎麼會把他的父親逼得要跳樓呢？
真正的素質教育在我看來應是，愛、善、如何做人、追究生命的終結意義等。不應該是知識或技能，而是一種對生命的理解，這些中國的教育裡太少了，甚至不敢涉及，以至於我們都有殘缺。
圖片來自pexels
Dear Joseph,
Thanks for your email. Your efforts to teach yourself English are very admirable, and they have really proved effective! Your English is quite good!
You mentioned in your email that in your 40's you experienced many life pressures and mental stresses. Such things really do make all of us stop and think about the meaning of life...Why are we here? Where did we come from? What's the purpose of life? Are money and Worldly success and all the other things the World says are important, really the most important things in life? etc. These are all very important questions, and their Biblical answers gives us peaceful hearts in the midst of troubles and stresses. As one of the Christian Sisters at St. Paul's often says, "Following Jesus is so sweet." It really is.
Reading the Bible will lead you to God and to Jesus Christ. Religions are largely "human-made" but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and with Our Heavenly Father God, are the ultimate goal of Christianity. Maybe this sounds a little strange right now, but if you continue to study the Bible and come to church, they will soon make sense.
I am so glad that you have been coming to church and joining the discussion group, and hope you will continue to come and take part as often as possible. It is my prayer for you that you will have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ! There is no greater treasure on earth now and for all eternity than to know Jesus Christ, and to know God in a personal relationship.
God bless you,
Karen
第一段是Karen對我英語的誇獎，Karen是南大心理學老師，她總是鼓勵人。我曾在加拿大生活過，這種誇獎和禮貌用語老外從不離口，有時候不能太當真。
第二段Karen讀到了生命的意義。
Worldly success——世俗的成功，就是名和利。
the World——世人
gives us peaceful hearts in the midst of troubles and stresses——在困境和精神壓力中給予我們內心平安。
第三段Karen談到了宗教與個人信仰之間的區別。
Religions are largely "human-made"—— 宗教的那些敬拜儀式都是人做出來，不能說走了儀式就表示有信仰。真正的信仰是你對這位天父和耶穌如何認識，與他們建立何種的關係。
比如，一個人進廟拜佛，求財、求名、求地位，他也燒香、磕頭，但他對佛祖、佛經又知道多少呢？他所敬拜的不過是他內心的慾望。這些廟、壇、香都是後人造出來的，佛祖在世時也沒有要求過這些呀。從這個意義上講，人造的儀式不重要，重要的是如何通過儀式去理解你所敬拜的。在基督教中，你按個人的慾望去求，神是不會答應的，要按照神的話語——《聖經》上的要求去禱告，神才會應許。
make sense——Karen在談到有意義或理解時，經常用這個詞組，這個詞組比understand更通俗。
第四段中的no greater treasure on earth now and for all eternity than to know Jesus Christ是全文的主題。
讀Karen信是一種享受，用詞很簡單，連起來如山澗流水，委婉而又流暢。
