I hope you enjoyed the supermoon on the recent Chinese Mid-Autumn Day, a traditional day for reunion. In one of the most beloved poems in Chinese literature, Su Shi wrote the following poetic stanza associated with the moon festival, and this is familiar to Chinese students:

人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟.
As the moon waxes and wanes,
So too human hearts experience joy and sorrow,
parting and reunion.
Since ages past, our longings have never been fulfilled.
We can only wish that life would endure
And, though miles apart, we could cherish the moment
gazing upon the same beautiful moon.

These lines, from nearly a thousand years ago, capture the deep and timeless longing of the human heart. The poet reflects on the cycles of life—joy and sorrow, union and separation—much like the phases of the moon. Beneath its graceful light and beauty lies a quiet yearning for something lasting in a world that constantly changes.

Though evoking profound emotions, the poem ends with no resolution, leaving a lingering sense of poignancy. The longing remains unfulfilled. This poem speaks for all humanity apart from Christ—those who sense eternity in their hearts (Eccl 3:11) yet cannot reach it on their own.

In contrast, the psalmist declares with confidence, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). What Su Shi could only dream of, we believers know as reality through faith in Jesus Christ, through whom our hearts’ longings are fulfilled.

That is why our mission is so urgent and precious. We are not merely sharing ideas or culture—we are sharing the light that turns longing into hope and hope into eternal life. In pointing students toward Christ, we help answer the deepest yearnings of their hearts.

What a privilege to carry the message of the One who said, “I am the light of the world.” His light never fades!