流浪的腳步 Wandering Footsteps

        在一個細雨濛濛的午後，我獨自坐在公車上，聽著隨身聽。公車從台北郊區開往熱鬧的市中心，我沿路聽著一首發人省思的歌曲，歌詞唱到：「懷疑，懷疑，是你眼裡的一個記號，記載了長久以來的脫逃。你從哪裡來？要往哪裡去？朋友，朋友停一下流浪的腳……」。此時公車行經台北車站前方，我抬起頭望著當年車站前的天橋，橋上熙來人往的人群，忙碌的身影，腳步不曾停歇。我看著眼前的情景，耳邊聽著這首歌，那些歌詞在腦海中盤旋著，淚水不禁沾濕了眼眶，我哭了……

       In a drizzly afternoon, I sat alone on the bus, listening to a walkman. The bus drove from the suburbs of Taipei to the bustling city center, and I listened to a reflective song along the way, the lyrics are sung as "doubt, doubt, is a sign in your eyes, recording a longstanding escape. Where are you from? Where are you going? Friend, friend stop your wandering feet…" Then the bus passed in front of Taipei Railway Station, I looked up at the overhead walkway that used to be across the station , the platform bustling with crowds of people, busy figures, their pace never stops. I looked at the scene ahead, my ears listening to this song, those lyrics swirling in my mind, tears began to wet my eyes and I cried…

       我哭了，我為著忙碌的人群，靜靜感傷。世人哪！在為著家庭與自己的人生奮鬥的同時，有誰願意停一下忙碌的步伐，去想想「你從哪裡來？要往哪裡去？」這個你內心深處從未消失過的疑惑。當你不知自己從何而來，又不知自己要往何處去，朋友，你真的快樂嗎？你真的滿足嗎？

        I cried, I felt a quiet sadness for those groups of busy people. Oh the humanity! In the midst of the struggle between family and personal life, does anyone purposely stop their hectic pace and think "Where are you from? Where are you going?" that doubt deep inside of you which has never disappeared? When you don't know where you came from, nor where you want to go, my friend, are you really happy? Are you really content?

       聖經創世記清楚告訴我們，我們的生命不是來自偶然，而是照著神的形象、按著神的樣式被創造的（創世記一26-27），換句話說，我們都是神的兒女，都被賦予從神而來的智慧、情感、靈性，而且每一個人都是獨一無二的！當你確信造物主對你的生命有獨特而美好的計劃，你明白在神眼中你真正的身份和地位，你會讚嘆在天地萬物中，自己雖然如此渺小，卻是無比尊貴，那種「渺小卻尊貴」的感受，會讓你和詩人大衛一同稱頌神說：「我觀看你指頭所造的天，並你所陳設的月亮星宿，便說，人算甚麼，你竟顧念他？世人算甚麼，你竟眷顧他？你叫他比天使微小一點，並賜他榮耀尊貴為冠冕」（詩篇八3-5）。

       Genesis clearly tells us, our life is not by chance, but rather is in God's image, according to God's form we were created (Genesis 1:26-27). In other words, we are all God's children, entrusted with His wisdom, emotion, and spirit, and each individual is unique! When you are confident that the Creator has a unique and wonderful plan for your life, you realize your true identity and place in God's eyes, you will praise that in all the heavens and the earth, even though you are so tiny, you are still very noble, that kind of "tiny yet noble" feeling, will make you praise God like the poet David and say:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalms 8:3-5)

       請問，你曾看過一隻猴子在全世界最壯麗的尼加拉瓜瀑布（Niagara Falls）下，發出對神的讚嘆嗎？這正是人和萬物最大的差別吧！因為唯有人是按著神的形象所造，所以唯有人會去敬拜神、尋求神。人的生命必須要與神有親密的互動，因為我們的受造就是如此。一個人的生命若失去了神，就得不著真正的喜樂與滿足，那種狀態就好比孩子選擇離家出走，不認父親，結果就是無窮盡的空虛與失落。

      Let me ask you this, have you ever seen a monkey in the world's most magnificent Niagara Falls, express praise to God? This has to be the biggest difference between people and all of creation! Because only people are created according to God's image, therefore only people will worship God, seek God. Human life must want to have intimate interaction with God, because we were created as such. If a person's life is godless, then they cannot obtain real joy and satisfaction, a kind of condition that is comparable to a child choosing to run away from home, never knowing their father, resulting in endless emptiness and loss.

      最近，聽朋友談到他的一位友人，年紀輕輕就立志30歲前賺到一千萬，他日以繼夜的打拼，果然在30歲之前，賺到人生的第一個一千萬，然而他只高興了幾天而已，因為他發現他周圍擁有一千萬的人也不少，所以他又立志40歲前賺到一億，但在接下來的過程中，儘管財富、名利、權勢不斷累積，內心卻愈來愈感到疲憊不堪，空虛不已，直到他來到教會去認識神、親近神，相信並接受神的救恩，他的生命才得到真正的平安與滿足，並擁有永恆的盼望。

       Recently, I heard a friend talking about one of his friends. At a young age he was determined to earn ten million before the age of 30. He worked hard day and night, and sure enough before 30, he made the first ten million of his life; however he was only happy for a few days, because he realized he was surrounded by quite a few multimillionaires, so he decided again before the age of 40 to make one hundred million, but in the process, despite the constant accumulation of wealth, fame, and power, his heart was growing exhausted with endless emptiness. It wasn't until he came to church to know God, to draw near to God, to believe and accept God's salvation, did he obtain real peace and contentment, as well as eternal hope.

       古希臘的亞歷山大大帝，一生叱咤風雲，是歷史上第一位征服歐亞大陸的著名帝王，但他臨終前的遺願，竟是死後把他的棺木挖兩個小洞，伸出他空空的雙手，希望藉此讓世人知道，他雙手空空的來，也是雙手空空的去，什麼也帶不走。如果，無論你多麼努力，人生的結局，每個人都一樣，最後要面對的就是一只棺木，那麼真的就如所羅門王所說：「我見日光之下所做的一切事，都是虛空，都是補風」（傳道書一14）。 

       Alexander the Great of Ancient Greece, was an all-powerful famous monarch and first in history to conquer Eurasia, but his dying wish was to have two holes dug out his coffin, with his pair of empty hands held out, wanting to let the world know, he came empty handed, and will leave with those empty hands, unable to bring anything. If, no matter how hard you try, at life's end, everyone is the same, the last thing to face is only just a coffin, then it's just as King Solomon said "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

        
        幸好，耶穌為我們降生，賜給我們救恩，帶給我們滿足的喜樂，和永遠的生命，正如聖經上的應許：「神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生」（約翰福音三16）。

        Fortunately, Jesus was born for us, to give us salvation, to bring us the fullness of joy, and eternal life, as the Bible promises, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

        
        這是聖誕節的真義！就在這個聖誕節，停下流浪的腳步，回家吧！

        This is the true meaning of Christmas! This Christmas, stop your wandering footsteps and go home!

        
        此時，我腦海中浮現出另一首歌：「今生若比永恆長，讓我們吃喝快樂吧！管那生命盡頭有沒有方向、答案！今生若比永恆長，讓我們隨心所欲吧！只這曇花一現，就讓它瀟瀟灑灑！……可是誰不曉得，今生不比永恆長，不比永恆長！永恆要去何方，今生就要思想。人若賺得了全世界，卻賠上了自己的生命，能用什麼來換！能用什麼來換生命！」。

         In this moment, another song emerges out of my mind "If this life is longer than the eternal, let us eat drink and be merry! Forget whether the end of life has direction or an answer! If this life is longer than the eternal, let us do as we please! If it’s only this flash in the pan, then let it be! …...but we all know, life is much shorter than eternity! Where are you going for Eternity? You must think about that in this life. If people can profit from the entire world, but lose their life as compensation, what can be given in exchange! what can be given in exchange for life!"

作者:譚亞菁 Dec.20, 2012

Translated by Parker Gadbois

看電影去 Going to the Movies

        

        看電影是很享受的一件事。我總認為進戲院看大螢幕，所帶來的震撼與感動，是在家中看影碟所無法比擬的，尤其看經典好片更是如此。基本上，只要是生活中充滿樂趣的事，我都會迫不及待地想帶我的孩子去體驗，當然，看電影也不例外！然而，帶小小孩去看電影是需要一些勇氣的！

       Watching movies is an enjoyable thing. I have always thought that going to theaters to see the big screen, with all the thrills and emotion it brings, is unrivalled to watching DVDs at home, especially when seeing a good classic film. Basically, as long as it's a fun thing in life, I can not wait to take my children to experience it. Of course, seeing movies is no exception! However, bringing small children to see a movie takes a little bit of courage!

       記得當年，某個陽光普照的週日午後，我帶著還不到三歲的弟弟，以及五歲的哥哥，一起去住家對面的學校電影院觀賞一部動人的紀錄片《一閃一閃亮晶晶》（Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars），這是關懷自閉症孩童的影片，記錄自閉症兒童的生命故事和家庭互動。正如電影海報上的那句話：「生命有多麼的差異，世界就有多麼的美麗」，我期待兩兄弟能透過這個紀錄片，去認識並接納與自己不同、卻同樣閃耀著獨特光芒的孩子。

         I remember that year, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, I was taking my not even three year old son, and his 5 year old older brother, to the school's movie theater across from our house to watch a moving documentary "Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars" . This movie is about caring for children with autism, documenting the life stories and interactions of families with autistic children. Just like the movie poster's caption: "Life has so much diversity, the world has so much beauty", I hoped these two brothers would use this documentary to know and accept children different than themselves, yet know that as children, they too together shine their unique light.

         進入電影院之後，哥哥從頭到尾看得津津有味，而第一次去看電影的弟弟，一開始還乖乖地坐著看，但看到一半，也許是第一次看電影太興奮，他竟然開始在電影院的階梯爬上爬下，而大螢幕上還出現他的人形剪影，真窘！我立刻將他帶回座位，沒想到他又「歌興大發」，就在電影院開心地唱起兒歌「一閃一閃亮晶晶，滿天都是小星星……」，由於實在太配合這部電影的名稱，他好像在唱電影主題曲一般，真令人哭笑不得！我本來想要帶弟弟先離開戲院，以免打擾別人看電影，然而，我卻感受到，現場的氣氛是溫馨、包容的，我沒有接收到旁人責備的目光，反而是向我們發出友善的微笑，這讓我有些尷尬的心情放鬆下來，弟弟後來也「冷靜」多了，順利看完整部電影。

         After entering the theater, older brother relished the movie from start to finish, and his younger brother, it being his first time at the movies, obediently sat and watched from the start, but halfway through, perhaps his first trip to the movies was too exciting. He suddenly started climbing up and down the cinema stairs, and then his human silhouette appeared on the big screen, it was so embarrassing! I immediately brought him back to his seat, not thinking he would want to break out in song, and in the theater happily start singing the children's song "Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are……" In light of it actually coordinating with the movie's name, it was just like he was singing the movie's theme song, which was really dumbfounding! I originally wanted to take him out of the theater, in order to avoid disturbing other people watching the film; however, I could actually feel that the atmosphere of the place was warm, inclusive, and I didn't receive reproachful stares from the people around us. Instead they were presenting us with friendly smiles. This allowed me to relax some of those awkward feelings. Later, little brother was also more "calm", and finishing the entire movie went smooth.

         這次看電影的特別經驗，並沒有阻擋我繼續去做那些看似「自找麻煩」的事，因為我時常被孩子的赤子之心所深深吸引，所以寧願「自找麻煩」，也要帶孩子們去體驗新事物，而事實上，不知有多少次，正因著孩子們的單純和熱情，以及閃閃發亮的眼神和燦爛的笑靨，讓我重新恢復對生命的熱誠，調整看待事情的角度，也更加懂得滿足與感恩。怪不得耶穌曾說：「讓小孩子到我這裏來，不要禁止他們，因為在天國的，正是這樣的人」（馬太福音十九14）。

       This special experience at the movies, really did not stop me from continuing to do those supposed "looking for trouble" activities. Since I have always been deeply attracted by a child's utter innocence, I would rather go "looking for trouble", and bring my children along to experience new things; but in reality, who knows how many times, it is precisely because of my children's purity and enthusiasm, as well as their shining eyes and bright smiles, that allow me to regain a zeal for life, adjust the perspective of looking at things, and also better know contentment and gratitude. No wonder Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

      《一閃一閃亮晶晶》這部紀錄片，呈現了自閉症家庭的奮鬥歷程，如何走出陰霾，無懼社會異樣的眼光，讓那群孩子得著關懷、理解、接納與認同，而發揮他們獨特的天賦潛能，活出生命的色彩，都能像一顆顆美麗的星星，在我們週遭閃爍！

        "Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars" this documentary, presents families' struggles with autism, how to walk out of the shadows, and without fear of society's prejudice, allow that group of children to receive care, understanding, acceptance and recognition, and realize their unique talents and potential. Living out the colors of life, all are able to be like beautiful stars, flashing all around us!

         我知道，那天在電影院，有許多「星兒家庭」在現場觀賞影片，謝謝你們教導我們去欣賞與接納每個孩子的獨特；我也相信，那天在戲院中，一種說不出來的溫馨與包容的氣氛，是來自你們的關愛與接納，謝謝你們也接納我家弟弟的小小失控，讓我們在戲裏戲外都有難忘的體會，深信「愛裏沒有懼怕；愛既完全，就把懼怕除去」（約翰一書四18）。

         I know, the theater that day had a good amount of "star-child families" present to watch the film. Thank you for teaching us to appreciate and accept the uniqueness of every child. I also believe, that day in the theater had a kind of unspoken atmosphere of warmth and inclusion, which came from your love and acceptance. Thank you also for accepting my family's youngest and his little mishap, making our time in and out of the theater a memorable experience. I'm convinced that " There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear" ( 1 John 4:18).

作者:譚亞菁 Nov.29, 2012

Translated by Parker Gadbois