留意最美的安排 Noticing the Most Beautiful Plan

(本文刊載於台灣醒報 2016年12月29日)

        曾幾何時，「看電影」成了我生活中不可或缺的一部分。對我來說，電影融合了多種藝術元素，無論是劇情、人物、音樂、攝影、故事鋪陳、角色特質、情感意境、文化衝擊、人生哲理…等層面，電影就像一個百寶箱，走入電影世界，總會發現一些寶物，帶來某種情感上的共鳴，甚至是心靈的啟迪。

        I’m not exactly sure when going to the movies became an integral part of my life. For me, a film combines a variety of artistic elements on so many levels, whether it's drama, characters, music, photography, storytelling, character traits, tone and mood, culture shock, life's philosophies, etc. A movie is like a treasure chest; stepping into the world of a movie, you'll always find something of value that carries with it a kind of emotional resonance, or even spiritual enlightenment.

        最近上映的電影《最美的安排》(Collateral Beauty)，光是看預告片就深深地被吸引，除了堅強的演員陣容，更是被富張力的劇情所吸引。主角原本是一位熱愛生命、充滿創意的廣告公司老闆，但他痛失愛女之後，就變得消極厭世，完全不跟人溝通交談，他後來開始寫信，但卻不是寫給任何人，而是寫信給「事物」，分別寫給「時間」、「愛」與「死亡」，這三個元素聯結了世上每一個人，我們都渴望愛與被愛，都希望擁有更多時間，都害怕死亡。

        For the recently released film Collateral Beauty, just the trailer alone is deeply enticing. In addition to a strong cast, I was also drawn by its riveting plot. The protagonist is originally someone who loves life, a very creative advertising company boss, but after the tragic loss of his daughter, he becomes pessimistic, and completely stops communicating with other people. Eventually, he starts to write letters, yet he still won't write to an actual person, instead he writes to "things", writing to "Time", "Love" and "Death", three elements that connect everyone in the world: we all want to love and be loved, we all wish that we had more time, and we all fear death.

       有意思的是，這三個元素化身為人物開始了與主角之間的對話，其實也彷彿在同時間展開與每一個觀眾對談，在一連串的矛盾掙扎之後，我們終將發現：別讓悲傷帶走生命的美好。「時間」是禮物，要珍惜善用；「愛」是無所不在，要化為行動；「死亡」是一種告別的藝術，要面對而非逃避它。即使在生命的黑暗低谷，仍要去留意生活週遭會出現美麗的安排，萬事萬物之間皆有關聯，失望和挫折的背後，都暗藏著美麗的祝福，都有隨之而來最美的安排。

       The interesting thing is, the three elements become real characters that start to have conversations with the protagonist. Actually, it's also as if they're simultaneously talking to everyone in the audience. Following a series of contradictions and trials, we eventually discover that: we shouldn't let sorrow diminish the beauty of life. "Time" is a gift, to cherish and put to good use, "Love" is limitless and should be put into action, "Death" is a kind of artistic farewell, we must confront it rather than avoid it. Even through life's dark downs, we still have to notice life's beautiful design all around us, the interconnectedness of all things, and that behind disappointment and frustration are beautiful blessings in hiding, all of which are part of the most magnificent plan.

        這樣的人生態度，如果是出自對上帝的信靠，相信上帝對你的人生有「最美的安排」，我們就會活得更有踏實感，生命充滿意義與盼望，因為我們信靠神的應許，正如聖經羅馬書八章28節所說：「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處」。這句話很適合成為我們的座右銘，在生活中大大小小的事情上，去體驗這句話的真實性。

        If this outlook on life is directed toward faith in God, then by believing God has a "magnificent plan" for your life, we can live a more sensible life full of meaning and hope due to our belief in God's promise, as the Bible says in Romans 8:29 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him". This reading is very fitting to become our motto, and in all matters of life big and small, we can experience the truth of this sentence.

        事實上，有趣的是，我在觀看這部電影《最美的安排》之前，先經歷了一場「最美的安排」！ 那天剛好是這部電影在台灣上映的第一天，我特別空出時間，迫不及待地要去欣賞這部電影，然而我到了平日熟悉的戲院才發現，當天戲院的售票處正在整修，而臨時售票窗口不多，導致非假日時間也大排長龍，這狀況超出我原本預期的。隨著時間一分一秒地過去，眼看著開演時間愈來愈逼近，只剩5分鐘就要開演了，但前方仍有一條長長的人龍，我真擔心看不到電影開頭。此時我突然興起一個念頭，我考慮放棄已排近半小時的隊伍，想去賭賭運氣，考驗一下自己的臨場反應和智慧，去使用戲院新安裝的「自動購票機」，當時只有兩個人在排隊，我猜想很多人都不確定如何使用這台新機器，所以這麼少人用吧！

        Actually, the funny thing is, before I watched Collateral Beauty, I was experiencing my own "magnificent plan"! On the day the film was released in Taiwan, I had specifically made time to go. I couldn't wait to go see the film; however, it wasn't until I arrived at my usual theater, that I discovered the box office was being renovated that day, and temporarily there wouldn't be many ticket windows available, which resulted in long lines even though it wasn't during peak times, a situation I hadn't originally planned for. As time passed minute by minute, I watched as show time approached steadily closer. With only five minutes left until it started, there was still a long, long line of people ahead of me, which made me worry I'd miss the beginning of the film. At that point, a thought occurred to me, I considered abandoning the line I had already been waiting a half hour in, thinking to make a gamble and test my own spontaneity and wisdom by using the theater's newly installed automatic ticket vending kiosk. At the time there were only two people in line, and I suppose a lot of people aren't sure how to use the new machines, cause there weren't many people using it!

        雖然排隊買票是生活中微不足道的小事，但我至今依舊記得踏出排隊隊伍那一刻的些許忐忑，那需要某種勇氣，因為一旦踏出去就回不來了，就等於放棄先前排隊所付出的時間和精力，也等於要離開已習慣的舒適圈，去迎接未知的挑戰。然而同時，內心又有一股莫名的力量催促著我快點離開，繼續墨守成規排隊下去，一定會錯過電影開演，因此如果發現此路不通，要勇於改變，勇於嘗試新機會，勇於學習新事物，別先被恐懼感俘虜了，拋棄那些「我不會」、「我不行」、「我怕…」等等自我否定的話語，何不放手一搏？無論結果成功或失敗，至少曾經朝目標努力過，況且嘗試新事物，一定會帶來新的體驗與收穫。

       Although waiting in line to buy tickets is an inconsequential matter in life, to this day I still remember that moment of hesitation before stepping out of line, that it took a certain kind of courage, because once you step out you can't go back, which meant you'd have given up the time and energy it cost to wait in line, and it also meant you'd have to leave your comfort zone to confront an unknown challenge. At the same time, however, my heart felt an inexplicable force urging me to quickly leave, to go on continuing a rigid adherence to waiting in line, meant that I would certainly miss the start of the film. Therefore, if you discover the path has a dead end, you need courage to change, courage to try new opportunities, courage to study new things, to not be a prisoner of fear, to abandon the "I don't know how"s, the "I'm not good enough"s, the "I'm afraid"s, and other words of self doubt, why not just take the plunge? Whether the result is success or failure, at the very least you'll have started working toward a goal; moreover, you’ve tried something new, which can bring about new experiences and rewards.

        所以我決定踏出信心的一步，征服恐懼，也許希望就在轉角。面對看似複雜的大型自動購票機，我盡量讓自己保持冷靜，照著螢幕指示自己選影片、選座位、選信用卡優惠方案，最後自己順利刷卡成功，列印出電影票券，擺脫了大排長龍，準時入場，覺得好酷！我也發現這台新機器其實蠻方便好用的，沒有想像中困難，還節省了好多排隊買票的時間。勇於嘗試，學會使用新事物，真的很令人開心，很有成就感。最重要的是，原本看似遇到麻煩事，反而從中有新的領悟，並讓你學到新事物，這算是觀看電影《最美的安排》之前，先體驗到的美麗安排，也深信這份體驗，這樣最美麗的安排，會不經意地在生命中、在萬事萬物裡綻放著，因為神就是愛，祂能讓萬事，就是所有的事，都互相效力，叫我們得益處。「最美的安排」無處不在，只要我們願意留心聽、留心看!

        So I decided to take the first step of confidence, and conquer my fear; perhaps hope was around the corner. Confronting the seemingly vastly complex automatic ticket vendor, I tried to keep myself calm, following the directions on the screen to choose the video I wanted, selected a seat, chose the credit card rewards program, and finally my credit card swipe succeeded, the tickets printed out immediately. I avoided the long line, got in to the movie on time, and it felt so cool! I also realized these new machines are actually really easy to use, they aren't as difficult as I imagined, and you can save a lot of time by not waiting in line to buy tickets. The courage to try, and learning how to use something new, made me happy and gave me a sense of accomplishment. Most importantly, what normally seems like an encounter with an annoying situation, can instead provide new insights, which allows us to study new things. Just like before watching Collateral Damage, I experienced a beautiful plan, and I'm convinced this experience, this kind of magnificent plan, will inadvertently bloom, in life, and in all things, because God is love, He can make everything, all things, work together to our benefit. The "magnificent plan" is everywhere, as long as we are willing to listen carefully, and look carefully!

作者:譚亞菁 Dec.18, 2016

Translated by Parker Gadbois