In 1972, the book entitled Jonathan Livingston Seagull became a best-selling book in the United States. The book had only 93-pages, and was a story about seagulls, yet it was not a children story book. The author, Richard Bach, was a retired pilot and he wrote the book with the intention to explore the deeper meaning of life. Many people wondered why this little book about seagulls could have become so attractive to the public. Analysts said that part of it had to do with timing. During the late sixties and early seventies, due to declines in morality, politics, and the economy, Americans had lost their sense of self-importance and self-confidence. They began to doubt the values and systems of their country. The U. S. was going through a process of changing from being hopeful and progressive, to being depressed and withdrawn. The voice of Jonathan Seagull came as a breath of fresh air: “For a thousand years we have scrabbled after fish heads, but now we have a reason to live --- to learn, to discover, to be free!” Have you found the reason to live? Talking about Himself, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”  (Luke 19:10). How then should we live? Listen to the calling of Jesus, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ….”  (Matthew 28:19)

「天地一沙鷗」 這本書於一九七二年成為美國最暢銷的書. 此書只有九十三頁, 主人翁是一隻海鷗, 但它卻不是一本兒童故事書. 作者白李察是個退役的飛行員. 他寫這本書的意向大概是要探討人生更深一層的意義. 許多人都想知道這本書為何如此吸引大眾. 分析家說, 部分原因是與時代氣息有關. 由於在六零年代下半期與七零年代上半期, 美國無論在道德, 政治與經濟各方面都走向下坡, 美國人找不到自己原來的重要性和自信心. 他們懷疑自己國家的價值和制度.  那時美國正在經歷一連串的改變, 從抱有希望與追求進步, 變成頹廢與退縮.  海鷗約拿單的聲音好像一口清新的空氣, 振奮了人心: “千年以來, 我們都在為爭吃魚頭在地上爬抓, 如今我們已經找到存活的理由---不斷學習, 不斷發現, 向著自由勇往前飛!” 你是否已經找到存活的理由呢? 請聽耶穌親自說, “人子來,為要尋找拯救失喪的人.” (路19:10) 我們應當如何存活呢? 請聽耶穌的呼喚, “所以, 你們要去, 使萬民作我的門徒 ……” (太28:19).