In 2018, a group of amateur cyclists from New Zealand rode one day ahead of the Tour de France for charity, filming their journey from training to the finish-line. Going up the Alpe d’Huez, one of the most difficult climbs in France, riders had to push a teammate up the mountain in order for them all to finish.
2018年，一群來自紐西蘭的業餘自行車手為了慈善目的在環法自行車賽前一天騎行，拍攝了他們從訓練到終點線的旅程。 在攀登法國最困難的攀登之一阿爾普迪埃時，車手們必須將一名隊友推上山，才能讓他們全數都完成任務。

When recounting the experience, and the seemingly excessive preparation he had put in before the event, one rider said he was thankful “for the extra strength that day”.
一名車手講述這次經歷以及賽前看似過度的準備時表示，他很感謝「那天額外的力量」。

It reminded me of something my dad always used to say to me: store up scripture like a camel stores up water – to make it through the dry times. Spiritual disciplines, sober planning, and the basic realization that life is hard and you will eventually face that hardship help to give us the “extra strength for that day.”
這讓我想起了父親常對我說的一句話：儲備經文就像駱駝蓄水一樣──以用來度過乾旱時期。 屬靈的紀律、清楚的計劃以及具備生命的本質是艱難的概念，終有一天當我們面對這種困難時，平日的操練有助於提供我們「那一天的額外力量」。

Yet, sometimes we put off the preparation because things are going well, and we cease to believe that trials will come.
然而，有時我們會推遲這些準備，因為事情進展順利，我們遺忘了考驗會到來。

Often we just get complacent. It is not that we had no plans to do the necessary work to ready ourselves in body, mind, and spirit for the challenges that will come. Rather, the urgent so often crowded out the important that we simply never got to it.
很多時候我們只是在沾沾自喜。 這並不是說我們沒有計劃去做必要的工作，讓自己在身體、思想和屬靈上為即將到來的挑戰做好準備；相反，緊急的事情往往會推擠重要的事情，以至於我們根本無法處理它。

But I cannot help but think of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Hearing Gabriel’s Annunciation and her relative Elizabeth’s prophecy, Mary responds serenely, confidently, and faithfully. In moments that could have inspired holy terror, we find Mary ready to do and be what she must.
但是我情不自禁地想起耶穌的母親瑪麗亞，當她聽到加百列的天使報喜和她的親戚伊莉莎白的預言，瑪麗亞平靜、自信和信實地回應。在那個極致聖潔至畏懼的時刻，瑪麗亞已經準備好去做她必須做的事。

Spiritual life is like that. Often, the daily disciplines, the long process of sanctification, the learning obedience, can seem boring or almost overkill. But the reason it is so important is that days of challenge, trial, and hardship will come. Crisis will arrive in the lives of yourself or your loved ones. How much better to find that you have extra strength on that day? How much better to find that you are over prepared?
屬靈生活如是， 通常日常的紀律、漫長的成聖過程、學習順服，可能看起來很無聊透頂；但它之所以如此重要，是因為挑戰、考驗和艱難的日子將會到來，您或您所愛之人的生活終將面臨危機，發現自己在那一天能夠有額外的力量該有多好？ 發現自己已經做好了充分的預備該有多好？