作者：Karen Kwek，新加坡
翻譯：曹琴琴，中國
朋友打開一包薯片，把袋子下面的兩個角往裡掖起來，然後不停地順著兩個角往裡卷薯片袋，一瞬間，袋子就搖身變成碗狀，方便大家從裡邊拿薯片。我看得目瞪口呆，他真是太有才了！我老公也很有才。他是我們家的科技高手，不僅把我們家所有的無線設備聯網了，還把我們所有的娛樂資訊整合到用一個遙控器就能操作。哈，生活就是可以這麼便捷！
我非常喜歡生活中的這些小竅門，它們都是一些很有創意的方法和捷徑，能非常高效地解決問題。在過去，這些節省時間的妙招都是由父母傳授給孩子或由各個領域的導師傳授給學徒。但是，你可能已經猜到，計算機行業將這一傳統的理念進行了創新，並讓其迅速流行開來。
2004年，科技記者丹尼·奧布萊恩（Danny O』Brien）對計算機高手(通常稱為「黑客」)們的工作流程進行了研究，發現他們有某些共同的小竅門，能大大簡化編程任務。「生活小竅門（Life Hacks）」這個詞應運而生，並被引申用來描述能夠幫助我們更快、更好、更經濟地完成更多事情的各種方法、竅門或技巧。如今，網際網路和一些媒體分享平臺（比如YouTube）使得幾乎全世界任何一個地方的人都能獲取生活小竅門（Life Hacks）。
誰不喜歡便捷的生活小竅門？
從電腦鍵盤上的快捷操作到各種給水果削皮切片的小妙招以及能幫我們省錢的旅遊攻略，我都喜歡，為什麼呢？
第一，生活小妙招能讓我提高辦事效率，更好地享受生活。我可以很快搞定棘手的問題，就能有更多的時間放鬆自己，享受成果。
第二，如果我不用請專業人士幫忙，就能既省時又省力地解決問題，我會覺得自己很聰明，很有成就感。其實，只要在網上看一些實用的文章或視頻，我們幾乎都能成為「專家」。
第三，我也跟大家一樣，渴望得到即時的滿足感。我們都想立馬得到自己想要的東西，因為這會讓自己感到很滿足。誰都不願意等待，因為等待會讓人壓力山大，坐立不安。廣告公司和營銷人員就常常利用人們的這一心理，比如，他們會打出一些標語（「趕緊搶購，售完即止」）或者提供按需服務。
這些原因確實會讓我們愛上生活小竅門（Life Hacks），因為如今有太多可供選擇的產品或服務，讓我們常常無從下手。有太多東西耗費我們的精力和金錢，所以現在的消費者就像皇帝一樣，習慣採用既迅速又簡單的解決方法。我們已經形成一種「解決問題」的思維模式。比如，我們總是迫不及待地想立即看到事情的結果。
幾乎所有的東西都在講求「即時」性，比如速溶咖啡、即時信息以及極速信貸。生物技術也在研究能讓動植物快速生長的方法，以便儘快讓我們食用。就連新聞和建議類的文章也在力圖讓我們在最短的時間獲取最多的信息。你有沒有經常看到這樣的標題：「致富5步曲」、「成功人士的7大秘訣」？不管是通過實踐經驗，還是通過閱讀指南全集或文章，我們都能獲取一些基本的生活小竅門——我們甚至在用小竅門來獲取小竅門。
我說的沒錯吧？
基督徒生活有小竅門嗎？
既然可以從「解決問題」的視角來看待工作、任務，我們常常也禁不住用這樣的心態來看待生活。作為一位技術作家，也是「生活小竅門 (Life Hacks)」這個詞的創造者，丹尼·奧布萊恩（Danny O』Brien）表示：「對大多數人而言，現代生活就是一個沒有簡單解決方案的超複雜問題。但我們可以從小的方面入手；我們可以創造一些捷徑……所以生活小竅門這個概念真的非常吸引人，因為它承載著巨大的希望，讓我們相信可以通過一些小竅門來改善人生。我們不需要完全理解或掌握人生就可以讓人生變得更能讓人忍受一些。」
很多人下意識裡都會有這樣的想法。我們之所以喜歡快速解決問題的辦法，也許是因為只有這樣我們才能掌控自己的生活，才不會對生活這團亂麻手足無措。不過不要誤解，我完全贊成以好的方法解決問題，贊成縮短銀行排隊的時間（其實應該縮短所有地方排隊的時間！）。但是生活真的就只是一個複雜的大問題嗎？快速解決問題是否真的是我們面對人生最好的辦法？就在我反思自己對捷徑的喜愛、對聰明方法的熱衷時，我突然意識到，聖經所展現的卻是一種截然不同的人生觀。
生活不是一個問題；而是一種關係。
睿智的所羅門王一生致力於探索世界，儘管他富有智慧，卻得出這樣的結論：人生深不可測。「在日光之下所發生的事，人不能查明；儘管人勞碌尋查，總是查不出來；即使智慧人以為知道了，還是查不出來」（傳道書8章17節，聖經新譯本）
所羅門試過所有的快速解決問題的辦法，但他明白這不是人生的答案。所羅門尋找人生的意義，但無論知識、享樂、奮鬥、進步還是財富，都不能讓他感到滿足。直到後來，他才意識到上帝是我們所有人的創造者和審判者，我們的生活因此與上帝緊密相關。所羅門總結道：「在你壯年的日子，當記念你的創造主……當敬畏上帝，謹守他的誡命，因為這是每一個人的本分。」（傳道書12章第1、13節，聖經新譯本）
然而，按照我們的本相，我們不可能得到上帝的喜悅，因為我們無視上帝，不聽祂的話，理應受到祂的責罰。但好消息是，耶穌基督為我們死在十字架上，拯救我們，借著祂，我們可以恢復與上帝的關係。基督徒的生活就是這樣一個已經修復的關係。這個關係真實存在，直到永恆。因為這是一個關係，所以沒有捷徑可言。
事實上，人生會經歷困難是有原因的，因為上帝要用磨難來培養我們的品格。正如使徒保羅所言：「（我們）知道患難產生忍耐，忍耐產生毅力，毅力產生盼望」（羅馬書5章3-4節，聖經新譯本）。聖經告訴我們：「你要在耶和華面前靜默無聲，耐心地等候祂」（詩篇37篇7節，聖經新譯本），要相信上帝會在對的時間出手相助。但是對於習慣即時滿足的我們來說，等待是何等的難。
的確，做耶穌忠心的門徒需要耐心，需要我們盡上本分，沒有捷徑可走。
我發現我 「解決問題」的思維模式對我跟上帝的關係其實並無幫助。有多少時候，我只在飯前向上帝嘀咕，睡前再咿呀兩句，誤以為這就是常常禱告的健康屬靈生活，誤以為這就是在謙卑地依靠上帝。有多少時候，我只是有選擇性地匆匆瞥一眼一些安慰人的聖經經節，而沒有深入研究聖經，還以為自己這就是讀聖經了。有多少時候，我雖然知道上帝的話，卻沒把它付諸實踐？又有多少時候，做完禮拜，我就會覺得萬事大吉，覺得離開教會我就可以做些自己想做的事情了，因為我已經完成了一到兩個小時的「敬拜」任務。頗具諷刺的是，當我沉迷於這些以及其它的「基督徒生活小竅門」時，我最終忽略的是與上帝的關係，無法享受祂的同在。
從上帝而來的人生小竅門
我們已經意識到基督徒的生活沒有捷徑可言，但我依然想說，如果生活小竅門是指把我們從許多麻煩和挫折中拯救出來，那麼耶穌對我們的拯救才是真正的妙招 ！祂的死一次性並永遠地擔當了我們的罪，祂實實在在是我們的救主。除此之外，我們在基督裡能夠得到從上帝而來的一切智慧和力量，得到我們所需的一切，得到基督永恆的生命。
這意味著上帝的話語也能為相信祂的人提供當下的生活幫助。所以當我們好好讀聖經時，我們就會受益。因為上帝「賜給人智慧……看顧正直人的路徑」（箴言2章6-11節，聖經新譯本）。祂沒有向我們承諾會有捷徑可走，但祂的智慧和遠見能保護我們不犯後果嚴重的錯誤——「當敬畏上帝，謹守他的誡命，因為這是每一個人的本分。」
我依然會去我最喜歡的網站獲取便捷的小竅門，並學習更有效地使用谷歌，但現在我意識到，睿智的所羅門王所傳遞的信息可能才是我們生命中最好的竅門。
Written By Karen Kwek, Singapore
A lifelong scribbler, Karen enjoys the company of friends, a great cup of tea and seeing the gospel transform hearts and lives. She worked as a book editor until she and her husband traded peace and quiet for parenthood. It seemed a good idea at the time.
I watch, impressed, as a friend tears open a bag of crisps, tucks in the bottom corners of the packet and keeps rolling the sides under until he’s created an instant snack bowl from nothing but the original packaging—ingenious! My husband, our family’s resident tech support, has not only networked all our wireless gadgets together but also united all our entertainment subscriptions under the rule of the one ring—I mean, the one remote control. Ah, life just got that much easier!
I’m a huge fan of life hacks—creative problem-solving systems and shortcuts that increase productivity. Such time-saving strategies used to be part of the practical knowledge passed down from parent to child, trainer to apprentice, in any discipline, but, as you might have guessed, we have the computer industry to thank for reinventing an old concept and making it go viral.
In 2004, tech journalist Danny O』Brien studied the work processes of highly productive computer technologists (popularly called 「hackers」). He found that what they had in common were certain tricks that greatly simplified their programming tasks. The term 「life hacks」 was born, and expanded to describe any workaround, tip or trick that helps us get more things done faster, better and often more economically. Today, the Internet and media-sharing platforms such as YouTube have made life hacks accessible to almost anyone, anywhere.
From keyboard shortcuts for our software, to clever ways to peel and slice fruit, to holidaying on a shoestring budget, here’s why I love 『em:
Life hacks free me up to work less . . . and live more. I spend less time slogging away at the hard stuff, so I have more time to kick back and enjoy the results.
I feel clever when I solve a problem in a fraction of the time or cost that it normally takes, and without having to call in the specialists. In fact, almost anyone can become an 「expert」 just by checking out 「How To」 articles and videos on the Internet.
Like everyone else, I’m hardwired for instant gratification. Human beings want things, and we want them now. Getting what we want now makes us feel good, whereas waiting is hard for us because it creates stress and worry. Advertising companies and marketers constantly exploit this fact of human psychology, for example through their taglines (「Hurry while stocks last!」) or by providing on-demand services.
These reasons strongly appeal to us because modern society is spoilt for choice by an increasing array of options, products and services. With so many things vying for our attention and money, the modern consumer is a king accustomed to the quick and easy solution. We』ve developed a 「fix-it」 mindset. Have you noticed, for instance, how hung up we are on seeing results—fast?
There is an 「instant」 version of almost everything, from coffee to messaging to credit approval. Biotechnology is figuring out faster and faster ways to grow plants and animals so we can get them onto our dinner plates sooner. Even news and advice are packaged to convey maximum information at a glance—how often have you seen titles like 「5 Steps to Getting Rich」 or 「7 Secrets of Successful People」? Forget having to learn through hands-on experience or read a whole how-to guide or article to get the essential tips—we』ve even life-hacked life hacking.
Or have we?
Are there Christian life hacks?It’s tempting to view not just our work tasks but all of life through 「fix-it」 lenses. As technology writer and creator of the term 「life hacks」, Danny O』Brien, observes, 「[F]or most people . . . modern life is just this incredibly complex problem amenable to no good obvious solution. But we can peck around the edges of it; we can make little shortcuts . . . So the idea of life hacks is just really appealing, because it’s an expression of this huge hope that you can actually hack life in this way, that you might make it a bit more bearable without having to swallow or understand the whole thing.」
Subconsciously, many people feel this way about life. Perhaps through our quick fixes we hope to control whatever we can, so that the whole messy business of life doesn’t unravel and overwhelm us. Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for getting things done well, and shorter queues at the bank (well, shorter queues anywhere!) But is life really just a complex problem? Are quick fixes our best bet? As I thought about my love for shortcuts and my quest for clever solutions, it occurred to me that the Bible presents a different perspective on life.
Life is not a problem; it’s a relationshipThe great wise King Solomon spent his lifetime studying the world and despite his wisdom, concluded that it was unfathomable. 「No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.」 (Ecclesiastes 8:17)
Solomon understood that quick fixes weren’t the answer—he』d already tried them all! From knowledge to pleasure, from hard work to progress and wealth, nothing satisfied his quest for life’s meaning. Until he recognized that God is Maker of us all, and judge, and our lives therefore bear a connection to, a relationship with God. 「Remember your Creator,」 Solomon concluded, 「in the days of your youth . . . Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.」 (Ecclesiastes 12:1; 13)
Left to our natural selves, however, we humans cannot please God, because we ignore or disobey Him and rightly deserve His punishment. Yet the good news is that God has restored our relationship with Him through the work of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us. The Christian life is this restored relationship, true and everlasting. And because it’s a relationship, there are no shortcuts.
In fact, we face difficulties for a reason— God has plans to develop our character through adversity. As the apostle Paul wrote, 「we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.」 (Romans 5:3-4) We are told to 「be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him」 (Psalm 37:7), trusting him to act in his good time. But for instant gratification addicts, waiting is hard!
Indeed, being Jesus』 faithful disciple takes patience and effort on our part—no mantras; no easy workarounds.
I』ve discovered how unhelpful my 「fix-it」 mentality can be for my relationship with God. How often I』ve mistaken the thanks I mumble to God before meals, or my desperate ramblings before falling asleep, for a healthy, sustained prayer life and an attitude of humble dependence on Him. How often I』ve substituted the hasty reading of a random comforting verse of Scripture for an in-depth study of a Bible passage, thinking that I』ve read God’s Word all the same. How often I』ve read His Word but failed to put any of it into practice. How often I』ve come away after a church service, feeling that I』ve earned the right to do things my way because my one or two hours of 「worship」 are done. When I fall prey to these and other 「Christian life hacks」, I ironically end up neglecting my relationship with God and failing to enjoy His presence in my life.
The Divine Life HackerHaving observed that there are no shortcuts in the Christian life, however, I do want to leave you with this thought: if a life hack is something that saves us a lot of trouble and frustration, then surely Jesus』 rescue of us was the ultimate example! His death has taken away the sins of many, once and for all—a literal lifesaver. Furthermore, in Christ we find all the wisdom and power of God, everything we need for eternal life with Him.
This means that His Word also equips believers for life in the here and now, so we would do well to pay attention to Scripture, for it’s the Lord who gives wisdom and guards the ways of his faithful ones (Proverbs 2:6-11). He doesn’t promise easy workarounds, but his wisdom and insight can protect us from painful mistakes—「Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man」.
I’m still going to visit my favorite websites for handy tips and tricks, and learn to use Google like a boss, but now that I think about it, wise ol』 King Solomon was on to probably the greatest life hack of all.
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