阅读经文 

当我在阿巴拉契亚山道的徒步旅行接近尾声时，我回想起沿途遇到的徒步旅行者。我没有记住很多人的名字，但我记得他们标记路线的别名：比如说“能量棒”、“Poppins”（水果糖品牌）、“先驱”、“赤色黎明”、“犀牛”、“短裤”、“汽车旅馆”、“坦克”、“罗西鹰”和“两步舞”等等。

这些“别名”并不能透露太多个人信息，但它们可能暗示了一些特征或偏好。我和徒步旅行者的谈话大多集中在徒步的距离、下一条溪流、天气、装备或山道本身。有些谈话是在山道上休息时进行的；另一些则是有几个夜晚和他们一起露营时进行的。令人遗憾的是，那些徒步旅行者和我们的谈话很快就成了一抹逐渐褪色的记忆。

在人生旅途中，与同行者相遇的短暂时刻，被我们赋予了多少意义？神创造了每一个曾经存在过的人，祂对每一个人都非常了解，这使得我们遇到的每一个人都很珍贵。虽然我们不可能与每一个遇到的人分享基督的话语，但即使是我们最短暂的相遇，也可能是分享主爱的机会。培养爱的态度当然意味着我们要定睛在耶稣的身上，让祂对我们的爱流向众人。

As I neared the end of my hike on the Appalachian Trail, I reflected on the hikers I’d met along the way. I didn’t catch many given names, but I could remember some hikers’ trail names: “K-Bar,” “Poppins,” Pioneer,” “Red Dawn,” “Rhino,” “Shorts,” “Motel,” “Tank,” “Rosie Eagle,” and “Two-Step,” to name a few.

These “trail aliases” don’t reveal much, but they may hint at traits or preferences. Most of my conversations with hikers centered on miles hiked, the next stream, weather, gear, or the trail itself. Some conversations took place for a few minutes while resting along the trail; others took place over a few evenings at the same campsite. Sadly, those fellow hikers and our conversations are now fast becoming wisps of fading memories.

How much meaning do we give to the brief moments when we meet with fellow travelers on life’s journey? God, who created every human person who has ever lived, knows each one intimately and that makes every person we meet precious. Though it may not be possible to share the word of Christ with every person we meet, perhaps even our most fleeting encounters can be opportunities to share something of his love. To cultivate an attitude of love surely means keeping our eyes on Jesus and letting his love for us flow out to everyone.