Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts

2023/04/08

一點燭光


 復活節的星期六,春天的氣息漸濃,光禿禿的樹梢早已長滿新綠,在濕潤的空氣裏卻總帶着幾分老是不願離去的冷意。此刻,某地某人繼續在暖暖的被窩內享受難得的假期,又或者早已遠飛海外瘋狂購物,好讓疫後身心來個大解放。也有基督徒為著紀念二千多年前,耶穌為人類受死、埋葬、復活,讓我們得與神和好這件事,跑到神樂院內踏上一趟苦路禁食默想的旅程...。

帶着宗教意義的節期,總能給予一個平平無奇的假期增添多一份色彩,身心得到休息之餘,腦袋也可以有個喘息空間,反思一些在平日繁忙中不曾梳理的思緒。


放在枱上的陶瓷柸,是早前在一間將要結業的二手店,用三十蚊買回來的一個松木味爉燭,由第一次燃點至今,每當香氣充滿房間的時候,往柸內看著火光舞動的同時,便忍不住用雪條棒撩動在旁邊溶化中的爉;滿以為可以幫忙把掛在柸身內火光未觸碰到的爉碎刮到柸底一起燃燒,結果除了是幫倒忙之外更令到過多的爉溶液浸熄了火種,爉燭原本雪白的平面更被我弄得變成凹凹凸凸再加一點點污漬。

今天早上一看實在不得不懷疑餘下那一段將殘的棉蕊是否有能力把剩下的爉燭燃盡,還真是怪自己多手,把它弄至如此地步。當火光再次被點亮的時候,頃刻便熄滅,如是者,一次、兩次;我還是不服氣,待滴爉乾後再試,第三次終於成功了,我靜靜地望着火光重生,讓它隨空氣舞動。
凝望著這一點微光,慢慢感覺到熱力把附近濕冷的空氣稍微暖和,慘不忍睹的燭爉面慢慢溶化,回復平滑而比較透沏的液態爉,我想,我有信心今次它可以完成任務,就這樣,它繼續燃燒。

常言道:"愛"能夠化解一切,恩怨也好、冷漠也好,或許世間上沒有大愛足以和耶穌為人類付上的可相比;但只要有一丁點,就如小小的火光慢慢地燃燒,時間也許會很漫長;被搞垮了的關係、被冷待了的人心,就算仍帶着絲絲瑕疵,卻始終會有被軟化的一天,昔日跌蘯的心靈終得以平伏⋯唯一,必需要的是甘願被燃點直至完全燃盡的一刻,任務才算完成。

倘若你以為個人的付出微不足道,就正如火點不夠大,觸碰不到掛在高處早已凝固的爉碎,卻殊不知在不知不覺間,熱力便傳到周邊,與被遺忘的重新連結。







2022/12/26

Christmas is…


 

2022/12/14

自由、平等、博愛~ Liberté , Égalité, Fraternité



Giggle girl fly to cut & release balloons


最近忙著各樣大小事情,花在網誌的時間也相對減少;並非沒有想記下的事,只是太多也太雜亂。戰亂的瘋狂、國家主權無限的宣示、核武的氣燄、移民/難民的浪潮、氣候的危機、疫情的無奈、地球/太空資源的爭奪…;要説的還可以有更多,都是你我熟悉而非新鮮之事,也是全球在同步發生中,不管你是什麼1,2,3⋯世界。

Liberté ~ 自由。是每個人都擁有的基本權利,如果各自運用得宜,天下太平;要是滲入了自私和霸氣,就在不知不覺間搶奪了他人的一份去成就自己的所謂自由。並非只有掌權的人才有機會妄用自由而誤置人民生死,即使是無權無勢的平民如我,也有可能在高唱“自由之歌”的同時影響到其他人,每當我想到這裏,心中不禁亮起紅燈。但為什麼原本是美善的質素卻可以變得“邪惡”呢?

我想了又想,可以這樣說嗎?原本擁有的自由在不會無故失效的情況之下,我可以適量及自在地享用;但一旦受到衝擊,特別是不平等的衝擊,隨之而來的反應便會很強烈,甚至為了“捍衛”有可能失去的而極力反抗,去到一個連自己過了火的地步也不自覺,腦海中只剩得‘我要...這是我的自由!其他的…我不管了!’

Giggle girl with giant monster


Égalité ~ 平等。或許這就是自由與平等必須共存的其中之一個原因吧!要是世界上所有資源,包括機會也是較為平均分配的,只要每人再為自己的未來努力一點點,便可以安然居住,活在穩定及充足供應之下。但同樣地,要是有人被慾望和貪念所遮蓋,貧富懸殊隨即出現,因為有的想要更多,比基本需要的再多,即使佔據了其他人可得到的一份也在所不計,因為無止境的慾望得不到滿足~這,又何嘗不包含在我們想擁有的“自由”而言呢?!平等:讓每個人也可以有機會活下去、被尊重、被等同,享有生存的自由!

Giggle girl with cats


Fraternité ~ 博愛。要是能考慮到其他人,甘願放棄擁有更多,甚至保留比應有的更小,我想,沒可能沒有愛的成份在內。人性大多為自己的一生籌算,包括家人,特別是摯親;但除了在這個圈圈之內,會為著不認識甚至是本土以外的人,在各式各樣的事情上付上心神的…大有人在,也許就在你我的身邊。地球上有很多事情令人憤怒、無奈與歎息,唯有愛能化解一切,把不平衡和失去的挽回。在神人之間如是,在人與人之間也如是。自由、平等、博愛並非不可實現的空談,要是我們每一個肯付出一點點或更多,地球還是有希望的。

2021/10/29

3+1 "好友?"


約伯與四個朋友
















還記得大半年前, 無論是自己還是其他教會, 差不多同步地查考聖經內的一卷書"約伯記". 即使我沒有爬 YouTube 的習慣, 但手機內每週也會收到朋友傳發給我, 由不同牧者用約伯記講道的訊息. 甚至連 IG 也有朋友以此為題材分享, 何為困苦? 尤其是發生在約伯身上, 似乎沒法子解釋的苦難, 應該如何解讀及面對?

在短短差不多一年的時間內, 我參加了自己教會, 由牧師特別安排的連續幾個短期查經班, 約伯記是其中一課. 今次, 牧師帶我們探索的主角, 並非約伯, 而是他身邊那些"好朋友"; 在理解神的創造秩序之餘, 更再次提醒著我們在現實生活中, 應該如何陪伴正在面對困局/受苦的人.

陪伴、聆聽、同理心、不代替神説話、從困苦中尋找上主的恩言…一步一步的全是可行又合理不過. 至少, 學習不要用自己的"大道理"去第二次傷害受苦中的人~ 就是在不知不覺中, 用我們有限的智慧去強行解釋現况. 

曾幾何時當我們對着一個剛喪親的人説:"不要多想, 慢慢會忘記悲痛…"
又或者對着一個長期患病的人説:"不要停止治療, 總會有痊癒的一天…"
又或者對一個身處政局動盪的國家, 連下一秒也不知死活的人説:"我為你禱告,願你平安..."
又或者對着一個因車禍而要截肢的人説:"不用喪掉生命, 已經很幸運, 快來感恩…"
還有無數無數你我也聽過甚至經歷過的例子, 難道這一切都是錯嗎? 
都不是該給予的安慰說話嗎?

事實上很多安慰的説話也確是出於好意, 只是我們不得不承認, 世上有不少苦難, 並非三言兩語便可"打發", 甚至乎仍要待在漫長的黑夜中… 直至該完結的時間來到. 而在這段時間裏, 與其勉強回應, 還是靜靜聆聽來得更好.

盡管有時, 我們以為自己曾經有相同經歷, 於是便對受苦者提供千萬個可以"即時解困"的方法… 説真的, 不盡相同; 反而當我們可以謙卑地明白自己的無助和有限時, 神自有其工作; 此刻,可不靜靜的陪伴、聆聽和等待…也許這才是好朋友應該做的事, 互勉之!








2021/08/11

The Tapestry Poem

Hi, 
 
I would like to share this with you, a wonderful poem selected by Pauline, our team member of "pastor Au + 7 pebbles" for a special study group  in our church.

"The Tapestry Poem"was originally written by Grant Colfax Tullar (1869-1950)
Then being shared by writer Corrie Ten Boom(1892-1983) in the title of "The Weaver".
 
This poem is so meaningful, being loved & broadly shared many many times; 
and I'm pleased to share it again in my blog, wish you like it, tooMy life is but a weaving

My life is but a weaving       我的生命
Between my God and me      是主與我編織的掛毯
I cannot choose the colors    我不能選擇顔色
He wealth steadily              主在編織引領
 
oft''times He weaveth the sorrow
 
Oft' times He weaveth the sorrow;    主常常編織悲傷;
And I in foolish pride                    我愚昧驕傲
Forget He sees the upper                 忘了主看到正面
And I the underside                      而我只看到底面
 
not til the loom is silent
 
Not til the loom is silent         直到織機無聲
And the shuttles cease to fly   機梭停止穿梭
Will God unroll the canvas    主會打開掛毯
And reveal the reason why     展現讓我明白看見
 
 
the dark threads are as needful
 
The dark threads are as needful      按照主的設計
 In the  weaver's skilful hand         深黑色的線
 As the threads of gold and silver    在熟練織工的手中
 In the pattern He has planned       和金銀線同讓需要
 
he knows, he loves, he cares
He knows, He loves, He cares;    主知道, 主愛, 主在乎;
Nothing this truth can dim.      這個真理從沒變.
He gives the very best to those   誰願順服祂主權
Who leave the choice to Him     主為誰留美好賞賜


P.S. - thanks Pauline for the beautiful translation so we can share with more others :D




 

2021/08/06

智者、旅人 The Wise man said...

The Wiseman said

A tourist who was visiting a small village approached the house of a well-known wise man, and he was surprised to see that he lived in a small, humble room filled with books. The only pieces of furniture were a bed, a table, and a chair.

 “Where is the rest of your furniture?” the tourist asked.
 “And where is yours?” the wise man answered back. 
“Mine?” responded the tourist, surprised. “I’m only here for a short time.”
“Me too,” said the wise man.

事源教會的一個課堂上,大家思考着智慧書,那麼,什麼是智慧呢?一位姊妹便發現這篇文章與我們分享(抱歉忘記了是摘自那裏,如果你知道,煩請告訴我以便加入此文的備註中,先謝過!🙂),我覺得很有意思,於是繪了這張圖畫,也在此與你們分享。

從信仰的角度,智慧源於我們信靠的神~敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端,認識至聖者便是聰明!(箴言九章10節)人的智慧實在沒法與創造我們的神相比,這是合理不過的; 能夠認識並信靠神,自然能尋到智慧的根源,這也是我們的福氣。那麼,在還沒有認識神之前,是否也可以活得智慧一些而不是愚妄地渡日呢? 

上文述説一個旅人在探訪小村莊的時候,行至一位有名的智者家中,驚覺他居住在一間充滿書的樸實小房子,除此之外,便只有床,書枱和椅子。

旅人問:你其餘的傢俬在那裡呢?
智者回答説的:你的又在那裡呢? 
旅人疑惑地説:我的?...我只會在此處短暫停留.
智者說:我也是。

或許不用我多解説,你也明白箇中意思。就是這麼簡單地解釋了我們為什麼不需要無止境地追求物慾,除了是物質與心靈所需的分别之外,也就是把有限的時間用在什麼地方上。得到的一齊能成為我們活得更自在和有深度,還是變成享受過後的一些負擔呢?


2021/07/21

Four Seasons

Autumn
 
Autumn ...
 
forest become silence
color begins to faint
air is dry
life is grey
open your eyes
something above
stretch your arms
a Gift to Receive

Summer
Summer...
 
here & there in forest
everything in motion
wind that blows to deliver
signs of love encounter
open the gift for you
the always special you
any message to tell?
any breakthrough to act!

Spring 
Spring...
 
aroma of the forest
life of the triumph
ready for the blossom
can't stop the movement
fly to Explore
chase the light
you'll never know
if you don't go
 
Winter

Winter...
 
it seems the end
forest back to death...again
it's a cycle of no control
we should only follow
 the seasons of nature
a Creator who rule
Embrace your life in Him
& you'll be free
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

2021/07/09

Komitas


There are numerous messages delivered from graffiti, poster or sticker found on the street here, in Paris. I am sure there will be some trace of the “yellow vest” - mouvement des gilets jaunes; a chaos agitated by the increase of fuel tax. My new friend Li, who studied & working here for over 18 years, she told me that actually the amount increased was minimal, but demonstration/ protest/ strike whatever we call are frequently happen in France, i.e.: they get used to & nothing to be afraid of.

Liberté (Freedom), Égalité (Equality), Fraternité (fraternity / brotherhood), ou la mort (or death*) - is the “national motto” of France. There may be still argument of whether the Declaration of the Rights of Man & of the Citizen on 26 August 1789 should include all of them in exact wordings, especially the last one;  but no matter how, it’s originated in the French Revolution. The Tricolor flag of France are embodying all the principle of the Revolution- Liberté (Blue), Égalité (white) and Fraternité (Red).

The memorial statue of Komitas in Paris

 Walking along, there is Mémorial de la Shoah - a memorial retraces the history of French Jews after the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, a sad history of 76,000 Jews deported from France. I didn’t visit even I’ve passing by twice, I am afraid there will be too “much” for my first trip, but it will be in my itinerary in the next visit.

So, who is Komitas? A statue that I’ve seen in Jardin d’Erevan. I don’t know who he was? But the form of statue clearly tells me it is not a display of an art piece, something serious,... to remember.

 


“ en Hommage a

Komitas

Comositeur, musicologue

et aus

1500000 victimes

du génocide arménien de 1915

perpetre dans L‘empire ottoman“

 

Lettering on the stone base

If we are thinking of the War Crime, Holocaust- Jewish was the first comes into our mind; but there is another one, Genocide- Armenian. 

Komitas was the survivor in this genocide, he was an Armenian priest, composer, a super talented musicologist, founder of the Armenian national school of music. If he didn’t collected & transcribed over 3000 pieces of Armenian folk music during his work in life time, the cultural heritage of Armenia will be vanished together with the genocide, no one will even remember the existing of this history. 

To Komitas, although he could survive after released from concentrate camp, the shadow of death together with his fear of losing his lifetime work in Armenian music that finally drove him nuts, he was transferred to stay in Paris where his friend was there... but weakness & insane were the only melody left in his last years, who died in 1935.

I have to admit that I am quite lost & depress while preparing this post, when I’ve watched the film online “Music to Madness (The Story of Komitas)” , in order to find who he was? The unfold of history was intolerable, up to this moment, I can’t find an “excuse” for “human” to expel/ destroy a nation and I am not intend to find one.

 

-  Survivors of the Armenians “re-birth” and wide spread around the world.
- Armenia was the First Nations to adopt Christianity as a state religion, it’s roots go backs to 1st century AD. (Wiki data)

2021/06/25

思維靜院

教會為着解構聖經中的書卷 ~ 雅歌,特別舉辦了這次三日兩夜的靜修營,也我一早計劃好離職後給自己一個靜思的日子。

半小時的快速船,離開市區往長洲山上的思維靜院,和朋友一起步行上山,原本十多分鐘的行程,因為入錯分义路,在雨中花了差不多三十分鐘才到步.…忘記了告訴她,能夠一次順利到達陌生目的地,在我的前半生,出現的機率微乎其微, 不過現今有GPS, 我還是肯定在入夜前必定到達 :P

長洲思維靜院向海的一個小角落

進入相對寂靜的世界,人聲、手機聆聲丶媒體資訊…被大自然的風聲、雨聲、鳥語、晨曦一一代替。完成每節的聚會之間,總能享受完全屬於自己的時空。

晚上從思維靜院望向長洲的點點燈火
一望無際的海面,除了七八隻老鷹翺翔之外,也看到弟兄姊妹各自靜思於小角落;夜間,亦能望到山下長洲居民的燈火,船隻歸航的指示燈… 此刻,很舒服。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

第一個晚上,在房間用風扇代替冷氣,除下口罩,打開窗,享受雨後樹木的清香;思考着神與人/ 人與人之間關係的點點滴滴。第二個晚上,索性把風扇也關掉,讓風聲、雨聲、蟲鳥夜鳴陪伴入睡…. 此刻,很平靜。

思維靜院隨風飄舞的風玲 

這裡,有一個小角落,掛着一個手作風鈴,在疾風中發出噹噹巨響; 但行近細聽,柔弱溫婉的餘韻隨着中間水渠口蓋緩緩擦向鐵通發出,似乎有未完的說話…望着晴空的白雲,聽着聽着…此刻,忘我。

其實離開繁囂並不太難,離開資訊對某些人來說才是最不習慣;是恐防遺漏即時新聞還是害怕會被遺忘的一刻?

重回現實的晚上,關掉一切媒體裝置,雖然窗外傳來的是車響人聲,眼前的小山丘旁邊萬家燈火,心中卻傳來柔柔鈴聲,此刻 ... 重回我的小角落!

2021/04/05

Sing Hallelujah to the Lord

 

Magnificent huge organ in Sacré Cœur in Paris

I am in the Sacré-Cœur, walking around, admiring the grande architecture, huge organ above...then an “angel” voice awoke me....click to listen

Hallelujah hallelujah
   Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah....

(Sorry for the noise in the background, feel the volume of the interior...isn’t it amazing?)

Open my eyes in a panic mode, I am already trapped or better say I was buried by a crowded of tourist from my “motherland” simply because they squeeze for a glance to the priest who will start the mass quite soon. A few ladies notice my shock, although I’m sure I can see from their eyes, they are a bit of embarrass & feel sorry to interrupt but, my best viewing angle is absolutely un-replaceable, so I am totally “under-covered” within the next two minutes.

I am not sure whether I should force to escape but at the same time I do feel embarrassment, too, because Hong Kong had already returned to China, therefore.... you know what I mean :P , but miracle happens, I close my eyes, besides of

Hallelujah  hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah....

Nothing more but peace & joy, that’s all.
A moment that I’ll never forget, a gift from God! Hallelujah!

Back to the angel voice, I just can’t stop to hear more & more, one voice after the others...I was “trapped”! There is mass ready to be carried out, so I sit down on the bench nearby, bow down my head, close my eyes, listen to the lovely voice, so tranquil & peaceful...so...so...”Dark”!!! I am short of my breath...

2021/03/29

My King James

King James bible with timber cover

Why King James Version and what is it? 
If you have one, by comparing with the following words, you will know what versions it belongs to.

For example:-  Genesis Chapter 1:1  
heauen (original Hebrews typeface) - 1611 version
heaven - 1769 version as well as in Modern English version

You can easily find the details in WiKi and also www.kingjamesbibleonline.org ; worth to check it out. Basically it can be known as:-

The King James Version (KJV), or
The King James Bible (KJB), or
(AV) The Authorized Version.

It is one of the most accurate English translation of the Christian Bible to be read in the Church of England under the authorized of King James, translated by 54 translators worked for 7 years. 

What I am having should be a 1769 standard version because 1611 version was using the archaic English language in the Elizabethan & Jacobean era; whereas the 1769 version is more “readable” and still reserve it’s poetic feeling with a flow of rhythm, so when you read out loud, they sounds beautifully.

Letter inside King James 1769 standard version bible

  














Some other words like: remoone (1611), remove (1769  and modern version) in Corinthians 13:2 
It’s quite easy to identify and of course you will also find a letter "To the most high and might prince James" at the front page of the bible, too.

Back of Timber cover King James bible with etching of Jerusalem wording

My King James Bible was a wonderful gift from my husband during his “flying” to Israel yearssss....before. The timber cover (walnut or sycamore may be?) is sooooo....special & human.
I choose to use the “ancient” verses in KJV for the highlight im my Point Zéro which are exactly what I wish my reader could read them loud to enjoy the "classic breeze", that’s why here they are, I hope you’ll love it! Enjoy!


P.S.: stain inside page are due to deterioration only.

2020/04/10

Remember Me

今天是受難節, 原本準備開始工作的我, 突然收到朋友的whatsapp, 傳來這條音樂短片Remember Me   (Words & Music by Deborah Govenor)

或許你不是基督徒, 又或許你覺得連續數天的復活節假期, 應該是用來休息, 逛街購物, 和朋友聚餐...

疫情令我們留在家中, 也許亦提供了一些空間讓我們思考一些在平日生活中, 原本會做或從來不會做的事. 

或許你會不明白為何我們這些基督徒那麽長氣,時常叫人信主?
如果你能感受現在全球與我們素未謀面,沒有任何關係的醫護人員,能以自己生命換取更多人的生存機會,那種無私和愛;也許會開始有少少理解復活節的真義. 和我們"長氣"的原因,邀請你細聽至少一次 Remember Me.

和大家一樣,我相信疫情總會過去,傷痛可以修補.在寫這片文章時,一正開啟 You Tube 聽Remember Me, 之後播出的這首歌旋律及歌詞,音色也很優美.容讓我藉着它來完結此文,因為我深信神創造的地球村是有希望的!
 
Look at the World  (by John Rutter)
Presented by The Advent Heralds Symphony & Singers