Persistent Pizza 待用披萨
Dexu Xia
Let us not become weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9
At age twelve, Ibrahim arrived in Italy from West Africa, not knowing a word of Italian, struggling with a stutter, and forced to face anti-immigrant putdowns. None of that stopped the hardworking young man who, in his twenties, opened a pizza shop in Trento, Italy. His little business won over doubters to be listed as one of the top fifty pizzerias in the world.
His hope was then to help feed hungry children on Italian streets. So he launched a “pizza charity” by expanding a Neapolitan tradition—buy an extra coffee (caffè sospeso) or pizza (pizza sospesa) for those in need. He also urges immigrant children to look past prejudice and not give up.
Such persistence recalls Paul’s lessons to the Galatians on continually doing good to all. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). Paul continued, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (v. 10).
Ibrahim, an immigrant who faced prejudice and language barriers, created an opportunity to do good. Food became “a bridge” leading to tolerance and understanding. Inspired by such persistence, we too can look for opportunities to do good. God, then, gets the glory as He works through our steady trying.
By: Patricia Raybon
How does your persistence glorify God? In your life, what deserves more godly persistence and loving charity from you?
When I consider giving up, dear God, inspire me to endure in You
我们行善，不可丧志。—加拉太书6章9节
易卜拉欣（Ibrahim）在12岁时，离开西非抵达意大利。那时，他一句意大利语都不懂，说话结结巴巴，还得面对各种反对移民的压力。但这一切都阻碍不了这位勤劳的年轻人，当易卜拉欣20多岁时，就在意大利特伦特（Trento）开了间披萨店。没想到原本不看好他的人，后来都成为店里的常客，他的小店还被评选为全球最顶尖的50间披萨店之一。
当时他希望能提供食物给意大利街头饥饿的孩童，于是展开一个披萨慈善计划。他将拿坡里传统的“待用咖啡”（顾客多买一杯咖啡，留待其他缺乏的人取用），延伸为“待用披萨”。他也鼓励移民的孩子别理会别人的偏见，也不要灰心。
这样的坚持，让人想起保罗勉励加拉太人要持续行善：“我们行善，不可丧志；若不灰心，到了时候就要收成”（加拉太书6章9节）。保罗还说：“所以，有了机会，就当向众人行善，向信徒一家的人更当这样。”（10节）
易卜拉欣虽然是一个被人歧视，又有语言障碍的移民，但却创造出行善的机会。他以食物为“桥梁”，领人迈向宽容与体谅。他这样的坚持启发了我们，我们也可以寻求机会行善。只要我们靠着上帝不断尝试，坚持行善，便能荣耀上帝。
作者： 雷翠霞
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