For so long we have fought to be treated the same as men. And of course we have equal value in God's sight, and deserve equal pay, equal rights and opportunities. But we are not the same. That's the point. I will make a colleague and a companion meet for you, God says, fitting, appropriate and different.The men of Athens considered the threat of Sparta and the need to protect democracy. Their wives saw sons slaughtered. Pilate considered the political unrest, the dangerous crowd, the unstable situation. His wife saw one man, innocent and disturbing.Recently I heard a preacher, male, describing Jesus as abandoned by all his friends at the end. Shame on you, I rebuked him afterwards. There were faithful disciples at the foot of the cross, only leaving his body to observe for the prescribed Sabbath, back at dawn on Sunday to embalm him.The men saw the larger canvas, the dangers, the risks and ran. The women saw only the friend they loved and stayed.
长久以来我们一直在争取和男人平起平坐。当然我们在上帝眼中和男人的价值相当，应该和男人同工同酬，享有均等的权利和机会。但男女毕竟还是不同，问题就在这里。上帝说，我赐予你一个合适的同事和伙伴，很般配，很相称，但大不同。雅典的男人考虑的是斯巴达人的威胁以及保护民主的迫切性，而他们的妻子们看到的则是自己的孩子被屠杀。比拉多眼中只有政治危机，危险人群和动荡局势，而他的妻子眼中只有一个无辜而困惑的男人。最近，我听一名男性传教士说，耶稣最后被他所有的朋友所抛弃。我随后谴责他：你真该感到羞耻。十字架下是虔诚的信徒，把他的遗体留下是为了预知的安息日，在礼拜日的晨曦中使他终获不朽。男人着眼点更广，看到危机和风险，然后一路狂奔；而女人眼中只有她们珍爱的朋友，于是一路相伴。
