Evening Talks with Friends

Last night, a few brothers gathered at my place. Actually, I prefer to call them friends. In my view, not everyone qualifies as a friend.

Our conversation covered a wide range of topics: political systems, current events, the economy, faith, our lives. The final topic landed on “entrepreneurship.”

On this subject, I didn’t say much, just listened. I felt that each brother had accumulated abilities over many years. Such abilities and passion need an outlet through action to realize one’s own value. But I also sensed their concerns and lack of confidence. To most people, business seems complex, especially with those so-called unwritten rules in the market.

Honestly, I’ve thought about this for a long time. What I want to do is use my hands, through drawing and design, to transform my understanding of life into tangible, appreciable objects. I dare not say I aim to influence people; I seek only peace for my heart and solidity for my soul. If others see what I create and realize, “Life can be like this,” that’s a great comfort to me. As Zhou puts it, I’d “give it my all” for such a pursuit and never back down.

I’ve felt anxiety because I lack the necessary skills to accomplish this. But if the God I trust is almighty and true, then “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” I believe the brothers would agree with the strength of this verse.

The thing I want to accomplish, in my view, is truly beautiful. If achieving this beauty requires adhering to the world’s ugly rules, I’d rather do nothing, achieve nothing.

Honestly, we have nothing to rely on but God.

This morning, I marveled at how fast time flies. 2005 feels like yesterday, yet I’ve not accomplished much since. Whatever must be done, do it with all effort. What you’re planning today, make sure to complete. That’s my conclusion.