發現驚喜 Discovering Surprises

      

      

(本文刊載於基督教論壇報 2013年5月4日，第3490期)
      
      從學生時代至今，無論是國、高中六年的住校生活，或是參與無數次在外住宿的團體營會，都深感與同學友人一起生活住宿，是非常有意思的體驗。尤其是在晚上，有更多機會可以沉澱一整天的心情，與人彼此分享，促膝長談。

      Since the days as a student till now, whether it's the six years of junior and senior high boarding school, or the uncountable amount of times participating in outdoor group camping, living together with classmates and friends is truly an incredibly interesting experience. Especially at night, there are more opportunities to settle the state of mind from an entire day, to share with others over a long talk.

      記得有一次，我的室友是一位宣教士，她已年過半百，有一頭很自然的、亮銀灰色澤的秀髮，她的面容泛著光芒，神采奕奕地向我訴說一個個她憑信心生活的動人故事，訴說上帝如何奇妙地供應她日常所需，如何帶領及祝福她的宣教事工，如何施行神蹟奇事在她的生命中，讓我聽得津津有味。當她說到特別精彩的經歷，還會整個人手舞足蹈，在床上笑翻過去，雖然她已五十多歲，但她喜樂的模樣、光彩的神情、純真又爽朗的笑聲，卻像極了十幾歲的少女，那股活潑的喜樂生命令人驚喜。從她身上，你可以清楚感受到「因靠耶和華而得的喜樂是我們的力量（尼希米記八10）」這句話是那麼的真實。

I remember one time, my roommate was a missionary. She had already lived over half a century, with her head of natural, brightly shimmering silver-grey hair, and a luminous face. Glowing with health and radiating vigor, she told me a personal moving story of her life of faith, telling me how God marvelously provided her daily necessities, how He guided and blessed her missionary work, how He orchestrated signs and wonders in her life; I listened with great interest. When she spoke of a particularly exciting experience, she would literally dance for joy, rolling over her bed laughing. Even though she was in her fifties, her jubilant appearance, magnificent spirit, and pure and hearty laughter was way more like that of a teenage girl's. Such a burst of vivaciousness for life's bliss was a pleasant surprise. From her, you can clearly feel how the verse "for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10), rings true.

       除了與人互動的過程中，所帶來的驚喜，有時別出心裁的營會活動，也會令你難以忘懷。其中印象最深刻的是，有一次我回宿舍房間，一打開房門，就發現床上放著給我的溫馨小卡片和小禮物；接著，當我整理床舖時，竟又意外發現枕頭下藏著精美的禮物；之後又在房門口的茶几上發現可口的甜點宵夜！我當時真是又驚又喜，多麼驚喜連連啊！我記得當我開心地走出房門，腳步輕盈地走在宿舍走廊，沉浸在一連串驚喜的喜悅中時，突然有一個強烈的意念深入我的腦海，甚至讓我因此停下了腳步，細細思量……

Aside from the course of interacting with people, and the surprises it brings, at times, the ingenuity of the camp activities are also unforgettable. Among them the most deeply impressive was one time, I had returned to the dorm room, and as soon as I opened the door I found a warm little card and gift just lying in my bed for me. Then, when I made the bed, I unexpectedly found another elegant gift hidden under the pillow by accident, and then, on the coffee table near the doorway, I found a delicious midnight snack dessert! I was really so surprised when it happened, all these surprises one right after another! I remember I happily walked out of the room, lightly pacing about the dormitory hallway, immersed in the thrill of a series of surprises when suddenly, an intense thought struck my mind, and even made me stop walking to carefully consider.... 

       我的腦海裡清楚浮現出兩個字叫做「發現」，那深刻的感動就是，驚喜連連的背後，蘊藏著一個更深刻的提醒：在享受驚喜之前，要先做一個動作——「發現」驚喜！—— 驚喜連連固然好，但是你都「發現」它們了嗎？這就好比精美的禮物一直都藏在枕頭底下，但重點是你「發現」它了嗎？這又好比上帝已將各式各樣的驚喜和恩典賜給我們，它們一直都存在我們生活中，可惜我們經常忽略或視而不見。但事實上，那些驚喜和恩典一直都在我們周圍，我們沒發現絕不代表它們不存在。

That one word called "discover" had materialized clearly in my mind, profoundly moving as it is, behind pleasant surprises lies an even more profound reminder: before enjoying a surprise, first we have to take action....we have to "discover" the surprise! Pleasant surprises are indeed good, but have you "discovered" all of them? This is just like a wonderful gift that is constantly hidden under your pillow, but the point is, have you discovered it? Again, this is comparable to God who has already bestowed upon us various surprises and His grace, both of which constantly exist in our lives, and yet what a shame that we typically ignore or turn a blind eye to them. Yet in reality, the surprises and grace are always all around us, and just because we haven't discovered them, doesn't mean they don't exist.

       這個領悟讓我受益無窮，在往後的日子，我學著更多去「發現」驚喜或恩典。其實光是大自然中的驚奇就令人探索不完了，正如聖經詩篇所說：「耶和華啊，祢所造的何其多！都是你用智慧造成的，遍地滿了你的豐富」（詩篇一百零四24）。

This realization reaped endless benefits. In the days that followed, I learned more about "discovering" surprises and grace. In fact, just the wonders of nature lead to limitless exploration, like it says in the Bible from the Book of Psalms "How many are Your works Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures" (Psalms 104:24)

       俗話說：一日之計在於晨。清晨的時光真寶貴。那一天，我特別提早出門，我經過社區美麗的庭園，一陣陣清新的花香撲鼻而來，伴隨清晨格外清爽的空氣，我深深地吸了一口氣，睡意頓時全消。我醒了，我的眼睛亮了起來，我看見樹林間有多種不同種類、不同顏色的鳥兒在林間飛舞，牠們不停地在樹梢間跳躍穿梭，嘰嘰喳喳，竊竊私語，讓我不禁好奇牠們究竟在聊什麼，聊得這麼開心？

       As the saying goes, “An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening”. Morning time is really precious. That day, I was out and about earlier than usual, I passed the community's beautiful garden, waves of fresh flowers greeted my nostrils, accompanied by the exceptionally crisp morning air, I inhaled a deep breath, and at once my drowsiness vanished. I awoke. My eyes lit up. I saw the grove had many birds of different kinds and colors flying in the forest, and their unceasing shuttles between trees, twitters and whispers made it so I could not help but wonder what exactly they were chatting about, chatting so happily?

       在早晨的薄霧中，我走出社區大門，繼續沿著小山坡往下走，我真不敢相信我的眼睛，我竟然在這小山坡上看見清晨的日出，我不知道有多久沒看見日出的太陽，好大好圓的橘紅色太陽，配上飄渺的薄霧，和遠方的山景，實在太美了！我忍不住向這美麗的世界吶喊一聲：「早安啊」！

       In the morning mist, I walked out the community gate, continued down along a small hill path, I really could not believe my eyes, I actually saw the morning sunrise on the hillside, I don't know how long I hadn't seen the morning sun, the orange sun so big and round, accompanied by a misty haze, and the distant mountain landscape, it was so beautiful! I could not help but cry out to this beautiful world "Good Morning!"

       這一場日出的驚喜，也讓我不禁讚嘆神的創造，還思想到神的慈愛與保護：「白日，太陽必不傷你；夜間，月亮必不害你……你出你入，耶和華要保護你，從今時直到永遠」（詩篇一百二十一6, 8）。我想，生命中最大的驚喜，莫過於知道神愛你。

       This sunrise surprise, had also not only made me admire God's creation, but reflect upon God's love and protection "the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night...the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore" (Psalms 121:6, 8). I think the biggest surprise in life, is none other than knowing God loves you.

作者：譚亞菁 Apr. 21, 2013

Translated by Parker Gadbois