山上的運動會 Games on the Mountain

   

        每年十月，在涼爽的秋季，於某一個週末早晨，在陽明山上的一所公立田園小學，都會上演一年一度的溫馨運動會。學校的操場旁，橫躺著一座外型圓潤的紗帽山，操場各處繽紛的彩帶裝飾，搭配綠樹藍天、秋季暖陽，這個充滿活潑生氣的大操場，即將迎接全校一百多位小朋友的精彩演出，與各式競賽。

        Every October, in the coolness of autumn, on a certain weekend morning, a rural public elementary school in Yamingshan stages the annual Warm Games. Across the school's playground, lies the rounded Shamao Hill, and every corner of the playground is adorned with colorful ribbons that accompany the green trees, blue sky, and autumn's warm sun. This great playground, so full of life and vitality, is about to welcome brilliant performances from the entire school's one hundred plus kids, with all kinds of contests.

        這是我孩子的學校，雖然這不是我第一次來參加這場山上的運動會，但卻是最令我回味的。究竟有什麼不同呢？對我來說，最大的差別在於，往年我大多是在旁邊觀看表演和比賽，忙著幫孩子錄影和拍照，而這次我試著從旁觀者變成參與者，積極參與運動會上的多樣活動，譬如親子趣味競賽、熱情啦啦隊、家長大隊接力等活動，從中也深深感受到，要享受活動的過程，勝過比賽的結果。

        This is my children's school, although it wasn’t my first time to participate in these Games on the mountain, it still is the most memorable for me. Well, what was so different about it? For me, the biggest difference is that in previous years I mostly was on the sidelines, watching the performances and competition, busy helping the kids take video and pictures; but this time I tried to go from a spectator to a participant, actively participating in the diverse activities of the Games, such as parent-child co-op competitions, the enthusiastic cheerleaders, parent relays etc. In the midst of it all, it can be deeply felt, that enjoying the process of the activity, is better than the actual outcome of the contest.

        運動會的高潮，就是最刺激的大隊接力賽。我的孩子很愛跑步，看見他穿上紅色1號背心，他是身負重任的紅隊第一棒！當槍聲響起，他從跑道內圈最後方，一路向前衝刺，我看到那紅色的身影，超越一個又一個對手，我內心吶喊著：「孩子，你好酷！」接著看見他第一個交棒的當下，不知何故竟然「掉棒」，紅色棒子掉在跑道上，第二棒跑者將棒子撿起來向前奔馳時，已被對手超越，我看出孩子臉上露出一絲懊惱，我上前安慰、鼓勵他，並和他一起為同學熱情加油，我彷彿回到學生時代，真的好久沒這麼用力地大聲加油，基本上我有點忘了自己是媽咪，好像變回學生一般，那是一種「返老還童」的感覺吧！

    

        The climax of the games is the most exciting brigade relay race. My child loves to run, seeing him wear the red number one jersey, he is charged with the important task of the red team's first leg! When the gun sounds, he runs from the farthest back of the inner lane, sprinting all the way forward, I see that red figure, pass one opponent after another, and my heart cries out "My child, you're so cool!" Then immediately after I saw him be the first to hand off the baton, somehow unexpectedly the baton fell, the red baton had fallen on the track, when the second leg ran to pick up the baton and sprint forward, he was already overtaken by his opponent, I saw my child's face showing traces of chagrin, I went up to comfort and encourage him, and we both enthusiastically cheered on his classmates. It was just as if I had returned to my school days, it had really been a long time since I cheered so loudly. Basically I kind of forgot that I was a mommy, as if I had become a student again, that really was a kind of rejuvenating feeling!

        運動場上的情景，往往也可以反映在真實的人生。提到「掉棒」，在現實生活中，誰沒有「掉棒」過？似乎成功在望，卻因為一時的閃失、操之過急，或沒有堅持到底，而功虧一簣。但我們必須要有重新拾起棒子的勇氣，與其沉浸在自責懊惱中，不如享受生命的每一個學習過程，就如聖經中使徒保羅的名言：「忘記背後，努力面前的，向著標竿直跑」（腓立比書3:13-14）。

        Sights in the sports arena often also reflect the reality of our lives. Just like dropping the baton in real life: who's never dropped the baton before? It seems like success is within our reach, but because of a momentary slip, too much haste, or a lack of persistence till the end, we fall short of success. But we must have the courage to pick up the baton once more, for rather than be immersed in remorse and self-pity, we should enjoy every one of life's lessons, just like the famous words of the Apostle Paul in the Bible: "Forget what lies behind and strive for what lies ahead, running straight toward the goal" (Phil. 3:13-14).

        那天，「家長大隊接力」是這場山上的運動會的壓軸賽，我平日喜愛走路，卻沒有跑步的習慣，我實在猶豫要不要參加，擔心自己會不會跑太慢，會不會跌倒受傷，會不會…… 然而，看一看操場綠意盎然的草皮跑道，以及圓潤可愛的紗帽山橫躺在一旁，我心想：無論如何，在山中奔跑，會是多麼棒的體驗啊！我穿起了藍色4號背心，決定去參賽！的確，在山中盡力奔跑的感覺，真過癮！在跑步的過程中，我感覺後方似乎有一陣風追上來，我被超越了！然而，我很訝異自己雖然被超越還是這麼開心，還是這麼享受跑步的過程，在順利交棒給下一位跑者時，我鬆了一口氣，臉上洋溢著無比燦爛的笑容！那一刻我彷彿是一位勝利者，因為對我而言，我達到自己的目標：勇敢參賽、享受過程、安全歸來！

        That day, the Parent's Relay was the finale for the Games on the Mountain, I love to walk in general, but I don't really have a habit of jogging. I actually hesitated about participating, worrying to myself, what if I run too slow, what if I fall prey to injury, what if....but, I had a look at the playground's lush turf track, as well as the lovely rounded Shamao hill lying across the way, and I thought to myself, no matter what, a run in the mountains will be such a great experience! I put on the blue number four jersey, and decided to compete! Indeed, the feeling of running hard through the mountains, is beyond amazing! While running, I felt as though my back had a gust of wind chasing it…I was overtaken! However, I am surprised that although I was passed up, I was still so happy, and I still enjoyed the running that much. When I smoothly passed the baton to the next person running, I breathed a sigh of relief, and an extremely brilliant smile shown on my face! In that moment, I felt like I was a winner, because for me, I had reached my personal goal: compete with courage, enjoy the process, and safely return!

        俗話說：「人比人，氣死人」，何苦去和他人做無謂的比較呢？做一個和自己賽跑的人吧！箴言說：「沒有異象，民就放肆」（箴言29:18），提醒我們朝著真正的目標與夢想前進，是多麼重要！人生各階段都有其特定的目標和獨特的風景，其過程好比登山，在到達目的地之前，別忘了欣賞沿途的風景，每一段路的景緻都值得你細細品味。人生的過程也好比春夏秋冬，每個季節都有其獨特的美麗和迷人之處，等著你細心發掘。

        As the saying goes "If you compare your lot to others, you will only torture yourself", why bother to make a meaningless comparison to other people? Become a person that races yourself! In Proverbs it says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18), this reminds us to strive toward real goals and dreams, it's so important! Each stage of life has it's own specific goal and unique landscape, its process is like climbing a mountain, before reaching the destination, don't forget to enjoy the scenery along the way; the view from every step of the way is worth savoring. The process of life is also like spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each season has it's own unique beauty and charms, waiting for you to carefully discover them.

作者:譚亞菁 Nov.22, 2012

Translated by Parker Gadbois