Page 27 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

CHAIRPERSON’S REMARKS

Rev. Li Ping Kwong

Time really flics! It has been another year! Is our deadly enemy . Jesus said to his disciples,
the Council progressing in the grace of our Lord "Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your
accordingly? How much have we contributed hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see,
toward the ministry of unity during the past year? and having cars do you not hear? And do you not
Or, we might ask ourselves, "Do we actually have remember?" (Mark 8:17-18).
any ideal?" If we have ideal, whether this ideal is
adequate to the need of our time? How far have The Hong Kong Christian Council will celebrate
we achieved this ideal? This leads me to recall an its 40th anniversary this coming year. During the
excellent article which I read many years ago, past 40 years, we definitely have fulfilled our
.
entitled "My Ideal and an Ideal Self1 The article responsibility toward church unity, yet the ideal
indicated that we should not blindly hope to of unity seems to be too far to be reached. What
achieve "My Ideal", but to first understand "the is the core of the problem? Is it because of the
Ideal Self' which is more important. Don’t just weakness of our human nature or the
wish "What to do", but to understand "what can I stubbornness of the church? Is it because we are
do?" "What should I do?" This self-discovery and not working hard or using the wrong methodology?
self-understanding is actually the source of "My Is it because the problem of the whole church or
Ideal" and the impetus of "Vital Action". It is also it is only our own problem? When we are
what objective that we should have. Our biggest planning to celebrate our anniversary solemnly, at
failure comes very often from our over­ the same time let us honestly evaluate the roles
emphasizing how to realize our ideal and neglect the Council should perform in Hong Kong, so as
to search for the potential of the "Ideal Self', to plan how to deal with the future. To retrospect
wasting energy, time, money, with purposeless the past, reflect on the present plan for the future,
investment and effort. As a result, even when we as I sec it, is the most meaningful way to
have achieved "My Ideal" with satisfaction, we celebrate our anniversary. Let us not only ask
cannot be considered as successful, because we "What is the ideal of the Council?", but to reflect
have not yet utilized the best of our talent. on "What the ideal Council should be?"
Therefore, we not only pray to God what we want
to "become", but to pray that we come to know "Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new
,
what we "are11 to discover ouf gift and to utilize it and loyal spirit in me." (Ps. 51:10).
fully. This is the most immediate and most
important. "Examine me, O God, and know my mind, test
me, and discover my thoughts. Find out if there
Making a report on what we have done should not is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting
be the only thing that we should do at the annual way." (Ps. 139:23-24)
general meeting. What is more important is to
take this opportunity to reflect and evaluate what May the prayer of David in his time be our prayer.
we arc and what should we do. As a matter of fact
we all have our dead corner which we cannot see. "Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch
We all. have our own blind spot. We should face and pray that you may not enter into temptation;
it honestly and confess it bravely. Never consider the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
"carelessness" is the ultimate wisdom. Whatever (Matt. 26:40-41). Jesus statement to his disciples
we do in dealing with business of in operating the in his time, is a reminder to us today.
work of an organization, these should always be a
continuous process of reflection. Carelessness is Forty should be considered as a mature stage in

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