"What are your hobbies?" For me, this is a difficult question. When I was young, it was easy to answer: listening to music, singing karaoke, going to concerts, watching movies, playing badminton, playing soccer... these were all my hobbies. But as I got older, had less time, and my physical fitness declined, these hobbies seemed to disappear. Now, perhaps the only hobby I have left is traveling.
After coming to Australia, many people travel by taking weekend or short three to four day road trips during public holidays. However, for new immigrants like me from Hong Kong, this doesn't seem very appealing. My wife and I love traveling to Europe, where we visit cathedrals, palaces, universities, beaches, stadiums, theme parks, and museums, enjoy delicious food, and participate in festive celebrations. Our Favorite destination is Japan, where we admire the beauty of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, visit theme parks and art museums, indulge in local seafood, Wagyu beef, and desserts, and relax in hot springs.
Every time my wife and I travel, we carefully plan the entire trip. I even meticulously prepare train and bus schedules and estimate the time spent at each attraction to make the most of every moment. It is because we never know when we will visit that place again, or when we will next become travellers.
Several authors in the Bible also remind us that we are merely travellers and foreigners in this world. As the apostle Peter said, "You are foreigners" (1 Peter 2:11), and as the author of Hebrews wrote, "foreigners and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13).
When the author of Hebrews describes believers as foreigners and strangers, he refers to faithful figures in the Old Testament—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—who lived by faith, believing they would go to a better heavenly home.
Brothers and sisters, in our daily lives, do we forget that we are merely foreigners and strangers on this earth? Have we also forgotten about our better home in heaven? Are we making the most of our time, cherishing opportunities, and using our short lives wisely? May God always remind us of the brevity of life on earth and grant us faith to long for our better heavenly home.
「你有什麼興趣？」對於我來說，這是一條艱難的問題。當我還年少的時候，這條問題很容易回答：聽音樂，唱卡拉ok，看演唱會，看電影，打羽毛球，踢足球…等，都是我的興趣。但當年紀大了，時間少了，體能差了，這些興趣都彷彿沒有了…現在剩下的興趣，可能就只有去旅行。
來到澳洲，很多人的旅行，就是週六週日、或是三、四日公眾假期去一趟本地自駕遊。對於我這些從香港來的新移民來說，實在沒有什麼吸引力。我和太太喜歡去歐洲，去看看當地教堂、皇宮、大學、沙灘、球場、主題樂園、博物館，享受美食，又或是參加一些節日慶典。我們最愛去日本，看看樱花、紅葉美景，參觀主題公園、美術館，飽嘗當地海鮮、和牛、甜品蛋糕，和浸溫泉。
每次我和太太去旅行，我們都會詳細計劃好整個旅程，我甚至會仔細地預備好搭那班火車、巴士，預算每個景點逗留的時間，要盡用旅途中的每一分秒，因為不知何時才會重遊此地，不知何時才會再成為旅客。
聖經的幾位作者也有提醒我們在世上只是旅客、客旅，就像使徒彼得所說「你們是客旅」 (彼前2:11) ，或是希伯來書作者所說「在世上是客旅，是寄居的」 (來11:13)。
當希伯來書作者提出信徒是客旅、是寄居的，他是在述說舊約聖經中幾個存着信心而死的人 - 亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各。他們存着信心，相信他們會去到天上更美的家鄉。
弟兄姊妹，在日常生活中，我們會否忘記我們在地上只是客旅、是寄居的？甚至也忘記了天上更美的家鄉呢？我們有否愛惜光陰、珍惜機會，善用這短暫的人生？願上帝常常提醒我們地上生命的短暫，賜我們信心羨慕那更美的家鄉。
