翻译自Paul Andrew Pereira的 "My Grace Is Sufficient For you"
从前有个小小的植物，生长在一个空荡荡，只有在上头有开口的大罐子里。罐子里只有一丁点儿的土壤，水则是一滴也没有。小植物个头不高，没办法享受到罐子外明媚的阳光，他也无法知道，原来罐子外是一片肥沃的土地，四处长满了绿叶红花。
我们的小幼苗身材娇小、弱不禁风、营养不良，缺乏阳光和水份。他也从来没见过阳光，尝过水的滋润，但在他小小的心里，总是相信在高高罐子顶部的外头，总该有些什么。尽管在他的四周，只有黑暗和空虚，他仍然偷偷地希望，在外头，有闪耀的天际；在那里，天空的颜色，每分每秒都在改变。但他的「逻辑」告诉他，他该面对现实，不要再做白日梦了。
逻辑：罐子外不可能有任何东西存在。看看你身边就知道了，这就是现实！现实生活不就已经够棒了吗？你仔细瞧瞧，其实罐子里已经有很多有趣的东西了。你看看罐子里的墙壁，上面的纹路刻痕无止无尽，你花一辈子也数不完。还有地上土壤的质地，不也很迷人吗？在这么大的罐子里，你还怕没事做吗？
植物：我知道。它的确很有趣。但我常常感到在罐子的另一头，有个声音在呼唤我。就算我知道罐子外不可能有东西存在，我也知道罐子里的奇妙，但我心里还是蠢蠢欲动不满足。我想，外面总该有什么吧！我的植物本能告诉我，我该长得更高，用我的眼睛亲自看看外面的世界。
小植物努力探头、伸展自己，但罐子实在太高了，他还是什么也看不到。不管逻辑怎么说服他，他仍然非常伤心，内心里有股向外的渴望和呼唤。他只好难过的哭了。
植物：你是谁？我为什么在这里？我知道你就在外头，不管你是谁，我需要你！
植物每天都这样难过的哭喊。直到有一天，天空的颜色突然变得很耀眼。有的又大又亮的东西滑过天空，一束光照在植物身上。这道光，让植物看见了他在黑暗里所看不见的自己。这是个神奇的体验，植物从此就不想再离开光了。但是光却继续向前移动，没有理会他。植物忘不了这个前所未有的经验，于是从那天起，他下定了决心，要离开这个破罐子。每天，植物只做一件事，就是努力探头，努力伸展。
有一天，植物又受不了大声哭喊。
植物：伟大的光，我需要你！把这个臭罐子拿走，让我可以天天活在你奇妙的光底下！
太阳：我的孩子别担心。我的雨水够你用的...
太阳用热力照射大海，让水蒸气形成的云层缓缓飘到罐子上头。一瞬间，雨水涌进罐子上的开口，植物享受了一场充盈满溢的雨水澡。植物的身体里灌满了水，他变得更强壮了。但这场大水，却让罐子里的其他小生命奄奄一息。植物突然明白，其实罐子不需要拿走，因为罐子里的大空间反而能将雨水装得饱饱的，让植物享受更充足的雨水。
然而，其他在罐子里的小生命就没有那么幸运了。让植物的生命茁壮的雨水，却淹死了罐子里其他的居民。罐子里的泥土、垃圾都被大水冲散了。这时，逻辑说话了。
逻辑：你在干什么？为什么你坚持要寻找天上的光呢？你知道你失去了罐子里多少的乐趣吗？你把罐子里的享受都牺牲了，只为了好奇外面的世界！
植物：我知道。但虽然我生长在罐子里，但我知道我不属于罐子。我的植物本能告诉自己，我不是住在罐子里的料。罐子里的生活没办法满足我，我只好想办法去满足我的植物本能。我想这是我就是我生来的目的吧。
逻辑每天都努力引诱植物，让他能迷上在罐子里的生活。有时候植物也会动摇，受到罐子里生活的吸引。经过了几次失败，植物都会感到难过，又重新向往天上的光。然而不知不觉，植物再度拥抱罐子里的生活，因为毕竟雨水只有当他向太阳恳求的时候才会降临。终于有一天，植物又向太阳哭喊。
植物：我无法再忍受罐子里的生活了，拜托你把罐子拿掉吧！罐子里的生活一直诱惑我，要我待在罐子的最底层。但我需要你的照耀和你的雨水。罐子真是个讨厌鬼！
太阳：我的孩子别担心，我的阳光够你用的...
太阳加强了光照，直到光线射入罐子深处。罐子光亮的表面恰巧能将阳光返照到植物上，复苏他的生命，并让他有继续向上伸展的力量。再一次，植物了解了其实罐子可以继续留着，只要他持续循着光线，一天天的向前，因为罐子可以让光线返照得更明亮，照进他最幽暗的生命里。
所以每一天，植物都大声呼叫太阳，恳求他光的照耀。太阳也非常乐意，让植物享受他的供应。虽然有时植物被罐子里的生活戏弄，没有呼叫太阳。但随着植物一天一天的向上生长，罐子底层的生活就离他越来越遥远了，他也渐渐食之无味了。相对的，随着植物一天天的茁壮、长高，他也越能接受从上方来的供应。
有一天，植物变得非常高大，强壮，几乎已经长出罐子上方的开口。他的根也有力量戳破了罐子的底部，埋入罐子下的土壤里。有了土壤丰富的养分，植物变得更强壮了。但罐子仍围绕在植物的根茎旁。
有一天，植物终于长到罐子外了。他非常兴奋，因为每天都能和太阳面对面对话了。终于没有东西挡在他和太阳中间了。瞇着眼，植物看见了罐子外的世界，而他看见的第一个景象就是其他的植物正被地上的昆虫攻击。因为那些植物的根没有受到罐子保护，只能任由地上露出来的部分被昆虫攻击。于是植物询问太阳
植物：为什么那些植物被昆虫攻击？
太阳：因为那些植物太聪明了。当罐子里的生活对他们太艰苦时，他们像你一样，求我把罐子拿走。我虽然告诉他们别担心，也告诉他们我的雨水和阳光够他们用的，但他们相当顽固，偷偷拜托小鸟叼走罐子。所以他们长得非常快速，但小虫也逮到机会，攻击他们柔软的根部。
植物：所以，我永远都摆脱不掉这个罐子啰？
太阳：我的孩子别担心，我的阳光够你用的...
不久后，因着太阳丰厚的供应，植物长得越来越高大强壮。有一天植物的根变得粗大结实，挤破了罐子。终于，植物摆脱了罐子。现在植物的根又粗又厚，变得百虫不侵。植物终于完全成熟，胜过了罐子、罐子里生活的引诱，和地上的小虫...
任何一个基督徒一定马上就懂这个故事的寓意。在我们努力成为一个成熟基督徒的过程时，我们需要远避属世的事物。我们需要寻求在上面的事，远离「罐子里的生活」。但当我们跌倒时，或为主受苦时，不要央求祂解决问题，而该享受祂从未停止恩典的供应。恩典就是神将自己传输到我们里面，使我们在一切的环境和「罐子」中享受祂。经过与主同行，享受祂常时的供应后，我们将在基督这土壤里深深扎根，那时世上的事物将成为遥远的记忆。永远不要靠自己找方法解决问题，总要转向神，让祂用祂的方式解决。祂知道什么时候该取去你的问题。不要自作聪明，用天然的方法，或找「鸟儿」帮忙，而要转向主，寻求加多的恩典。最后，你会一天比一天强壮，直到你不需要「罐子」为止。享受基督作恩典自己，因为这是够你用的...
（by Paul Andrew Pereira，translated by Stef）
英文原文：
My Grace Is Sufficient For you
There was once a little plant that grew in an empty can. The can was completely open at the top but the little plant was still a seedling inside the big can. There was very little earth inside the can and there was simply no water. The little plant was very short and wasn’t tall enough to enjoy the sunshine which was shining outside the can. Outside the can was a beautifully nourished field with a lot of big beautiful plants with flowers.
Our little seedling, although young, seemed like a plant about to die. It was malnourished and was lacking sunshine and water. It did not experience sunlight or water but sensed however that there must be something more way up there at the mouth of the can. As much as the plants physical senses knew that all around him was just dark emptiness as far as he could tell, there was something about the beautiful brightness of the sky above which changed color every now and then. His logic told him that to face reality.
Logic: There can’t be anything else outside this can. What do you see around you? This is reality. Isn’t reality simply awesome? There are so many things inside this can to be amused about. The number of grooves on the walls on the can are uncountable. It would take a lifetime to count them. The fine texture of the dirt inside the can is fantastic. There are so many things to occupy yourself with inside this can.
Plant: I know. It is very amusing. But I can’t help but sense something calling from outside the can. As much as I know there can’t be anything outside the can, I also know that as wonderful as this can is, it doesn’t seem to satisfy me completely. There’s something more. There’s someone there outside. The plant life within me is telling me I must grow taller and see what’s outside.
The plant tried to explore the heights of the can but was just too short to do it. No matter what the plant’s logic told it, it felt sorrowful inside, with a longing for something to satisfy the plant life within it. The plant cried out in pain,
Plant: Who are you? Why am I here? I know you’re out there whoever you are and I need you!
Everyday the plant cried out this way. Then one day, the sky changed color and became very bright. Something big and bright slid across the sky and revealed a great light onto the plant. This light opened up parts of the plant it didn’t even know it had. It was a fantastic experience and the plant wanted to always be in this light. But the light passed on. Nevertheless, the experience was unforgettable. From this day forth the plant was determined to get outside the can. It tried as hard as it could day by day to reach the top of the can but it was simply too short.
One day the plant cried out again.
Plant: O great Light I need you! Please remove this can so I can live in your shining!
Sun: Don’t worry my child. My rain is sufficient for you…
The sun heated the seas and caused clouds to form above the can. Almost immediately rain came from the mouth of the can and showered the plant with a well needed supply of water. This water filled the plant and made it much stronger. While all the life in the can was struggling to survive. The plant was made strong with water and suddenly realized it didn’t even need the can to be removed. The can made the rainwater all the more enjoyable because the can collected the water that fell into it for the plant.
However, the rest of the life in the can were very troubled. The same water that nourished the plant was drowning the other inhabitants of the can. All the dirt and rubbish in the can was drowned by the water. The plant’s logic spoke to the plant,
Logic: What are you doing? Why do you seek after the light from above? By doing this you are missing out on so much of the can life. You are drowning the enjoyments of the can life by stretching forth to the things above!
Plant: I know. But though I am in the can, I am not of the can. I am of the plant life, not the can life. The things of the can cannot satisfy me. I must seek what satisfies the plant life in me. This is my purpose.
The plant’s logic tried everyday to lure the plant to enjoy the can life. Sometimes the plant was tempted and most of the time the plant fell for the lusts of the can life. But after falling the plant would feel sorrowful and long again for the things above. The plant became weak when it dwelt in the can life and every time it went down to the depths of the can for enjoying the can life, it missed out on the shining from above. The rain would also only come if the plant was willing to ask the sun for it. The plant called out again to the sun,
Plant: Please remove this can from me! I can’t take it anymore. This can and it’s can life keep luring me downward to the depths of it. I need to enjoy your shining and watering. This can is a nuisance to me!
Sun: Don’t worry my child, My ray is sufficient for you…
The sun intensified the shining of it’s light and the rays hit against the inner sides of the can. The shiny surface of the can reflected the rays of the sun to the plant, nourishing it and drawing it toward the things above once again. The plant realized that the can didn’t need to be removed, the plant just needed to keep seeking after the sun every day, and the existence of the can would just allow the plant to experience the nourishing in a deeper way.
So everyday the plant called on the sun, asking for it’s supply. The sun was also more than willing to offer it to the plant. Sometimes the plant failed to call on the sun out of a pure heart when it was tricked by the can life. But as the plant grew taller and taller inside the can, the depths of the can and it’s can life enjoyment became more and more distant and harder to enjoy. And the taller the plant grew, the more it enjoyed the supply from above.
One day the plant became very tall and strong and it was almost out of the mouth of the can. Suddenly however, it’s roots which had become very strong broke through the bottom of the can and plunged into the soil beneath the can. The plant then grew even stronger with the rich supply from the ground and the sky above. The can was still around the plants stem.
Finally the plant reached the outside of the can one day. it was so happy and it could talk to the sun all day. There was nothing in the way of it’s fellowship with the sun anymore. The plant could also see so much of the world outside the can. One of the first things it saw were other plants being attacked by insects. These plants did not have cans around their stems so the insects on the ground could attack the exposed plant stem coming out of the ground. Out plant then asked the sun,
Plant: Why are those other plants being eaten up by the insects?
Sun: Those other plants were very clever. When the can life they experienced was too difficult for them to handle, they asked me to remove it for them. I told them not to worry. I told them that my rain and ray were sufficient for them. But they were stubborn and they communicated with the birds and asked the birds to remove the cans from them. So they grew very fast but the insects on the ground could now attack them because they had exposed their soft stems.
Plant: Does that mean I must keep this can around me forever?
Sun: Don’t worry my child, My ray is sufficient for you…
Not long after this, the plant grew even stronger by enjoying the supply of the sun above. One day the stem of the plant became so thick that it broke the can around it and the plant was finally free of the can. But the plants stem had become thick and hard and could not be attacked by the insects of the ground. The plant had fully matured at this point and overcame the can, the can life, and the insects of the ground…
Any Christian would immediately understand what this story is about. In our struggle to become a mature Christian, we need to turn away from the worldly things. We have to seek after the things of above and nothing of the “can-life”. But when we fail or when we suffer for Christ, don’t ask the Lord to remove the problem but instead enjoy His ever supplying grace. Grace is God transfused into us for our enjoyment through all our circumstances or “cans” and our seeking after Him. After walking with the Lord and enjoying His supply for a long time, we will be deeply rooted in Christ as our good land and the things of the world would be a distant memory. Never engineer means by which you can solve your problems yourself. Always turn to the Lord and let Him deal with it. He knows when to remove your problems for you. Don’t work with your fleshly and natural ideas or “birds” but turn to the Lord for more grace. Eventually, you will be stronger than ever and you won’t need the “can” anymore. Enjoy the Lord in Christ always as grace which is sufficient for us…
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