作者 陳小小 2001.02.25
從升學主義的重重考試競爭上來的我,對成績是錙銖必較。即使大學畢業後, 蒙上帝呼召,進神學院讀書,還是對成績非常注重。
我修了一門課「希臘文」。老師每天都考試,並且出作業給我們回家練習。很 多同學考不好,作業寫不完,跟不上進度。但老師也不生氣,但是每回上課或嚴 肅、或溫柔地要大家快跟上。
終於同學們都死撐活撐挨到了期末考。那天我們用盡了全副的腦細胞裝下奧 澀難懂的希臘文,好不容易將所背的填滿了試卷。因為我們這門科目只有五、六 個人修,老師用中間休息時間,馬上就改完全班的試卷,對我們發佈成績。他說, 我們全部都得「A」。
我真是不敢置信。因為我是全班每次單字考試都拿滿分的人,其餘同學還有 不及格的。期中考也是成績很高,其他同學更是不及格多。另外,作業我也是準 時交,幾乎沒有錯誤。其他同學還有人拖到期末考前才一次交齊好幾次的作業。 為何大家的分數都是「A」?我若是「A」,那王三應該是「A-」,李四應該是「B+」, 趙五則是「B」。為何大家都是「A」呢?真不公平。
沒想到老師說,他看出我們大家都盡了全力。連最忙、年紀最老的牧師同學 都把作業補齊,而且期末考試也看出他有下過苦功。所以全班都是「A」。他繼續 說,在他眼裡我們希臘文即使考滿分,但是跟他的程度比起來都是「F」(不及格)。 (這外國老師平日看聖經,都是直接用希臘文、希伯來文語言閱讀。)然而他認 為每位同學都有盡全力讀,故在他心目中每個人都是「A」。他接著說,上帝看待 我們罪人亦是如此。我們在上帝眼中都是「F」(不及格),但是因為有耶穌的恩典 臨及我們,於是大家都變成「A」。
或許有人對這種評分方式很不以為然。但是老師這種機會教育,對嗜成績如 命的我,卻是當頭棒喝!上帝透過這個老師完全釋放被成績綑綁多年的我。
註:評分高低順序是 A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- F
關於前期文章「生命的功課」2001.2.18,讀者回應:
Rebecca Liu wrote:
Dear Virginia: I deeply appreciate your sharing concerning God's calling and what you have experienced in living with your parents-in-law. Though my husband and I live in the USA, I often feel the pressure and the differences between me and my parents-in-law through the phone conversations. I am pregnant now, but sometimes worried what if the first baby is not a boy...:) By reading your article, I realized that my parents-in-law are probably from the similar background as your parents-in-law whereas I, received education through graduate school, with four grandparents from Mainland China (ie., my family is not traditional Taiwanese family. I do not understand taiwanese well though I grew up in Kaohsiung), sometimes fell into the "temptation" of judging my parents-in-law and often wonder how come they do not appreciate my education, trainings received in multiple areas such as painting, playing the music, singing, logical thinking, etc. as other people do. Your article makes me to review/exam myself as well as my pride before the Lord. I was also moved by your serious attitude toward God. Thanks again and may the Lord bless you and your family richly. PS: sorry that there is no Chinese characters installed in my office computer, therefore, I cannot type Chinese letter as my response. I am a Chinese and speak/use Chinese. :B Rebecca