3/2-3/8/15

<心意更新>3/2-3/8/15

「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」(羅馬書 12:2)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

默想禱告: 搬來紐約才不到半年, 幾乎每天都接觸到不少的悲情故事, 落難家庭, 甚至是人間慘劇。

上周一次約談中, 我與一位患自閉症的男孩父母作深度協談, 嘗試為他們一家三口居留身份的困境打開一道希望的門。

一小時多的折騰, 每個折解問題的選項結果還是指著 “此路不通”, 為此我也感到十分沮喪和無奈!

「為什麼我們這些有合法身份的人得不到政府的照顧, 反而偷渡或違法者卻可能申請到總統行政命令的各種好處?」男孩的爸爸帶有憤憤不平的語氣來發問。對此我完全沒有任何答案。

印象中, 恍惚看見社會每天都不斷重複出現許多不公平、不正義、好人吃苦, 遭遇浩劫; 而惡人卻逍遙自在, 無法無天地存活的景象。如果再想多了, 內心會更容易瀉泄出憤世嫉俗, 糾結難解的負面情緒。

基督徒要過得勝生活, 我們就得學習跨越攔阻我們靈性飛躍的心理屏障,意味著我們的心思意念要常常更新變化, 不容讓世界的奇風異俗, 不容許患上潰瘍的俗世價值系統深深感染我們脆弱的心懷。

於是我刻意將視線從男孩父親沉鬱的面容中抽離, 轉移到孩子的身上。他的臉這時候濺起一絲絲天真的笑容, 手腳興奮地搖擺起來。

「Ryan, 叔叔為你禱告好不好?」據他爸爸說Ryan知道禱告是什麼意思。

“Good!” 男孩激昂地回答。

我接著用英語為Ryan, 和他一家人禱告並祝福, 求主耶穌撫平他們內心所忍受的一切傷害, 把最需要的平安和喜樂厚厚的賜給他們一家。

我發現, 當我以屬靈敏銳的角度, 就是從上帝的眼光來看待一切事情, 許多不如意, 挫折和困難的遭遇頃刻會轉化成一股謐靜平和, 充滿喜悅的思緒,不僅自己感覺輕省, 也可以給别人帶來祝福。

我如此明白這是神為何叫我們要察驗祂善良, 純全可喜悅的旨意的因由,為的是叫我們得著智慧的心, 活出在地如在天的見証, 感恩禱告奉主耶穌聖名, 阿們。(陳熾弟兄分享)

Meditation: It was my first contact with an autistic child with a difficult immigration issue. His father, confounded by our convoluted immigration system, is apparently disturbed sitting across my desk.

“Tell me why millions of undocumented immigrants receive special treatment, like DACA, or DAPA, asylum…yet we are not entitled to any of those benefits, in spite of maintaining our legal status.” He looked kind of confused.

“I have no answer for your questions.”  I am flabbergasted for not capable of expressing my view on many of these complex political issues in this brief encounter.  

Yes, I have no definitive interpretation on many unfair, unjust happenings on a daily basis to see good people suffer, while the wicked prosper.

But I believe that while we can’t control things of life all the time, we can make conscious choices. We can choose to feel depressed, dejected, frustrated, angered or disillusioned, or we can change our perspective and ask God to intervene or intercede on our behalf. Once we begin to sharpen our spiritual lens and look at things in God’s perspective, our outlook in life can be far much better, reaching a higher ground that all troubles suddenly become minuscule and quite insignificant.

I turned my head toward Ryan and asked: “Would you like me to pray for you?

“Good.” He gave me a gentle grin, and showed his excitement by kicking his feet. His father said earlier that Ryan attends special school and understands English.

I pray to seek God’s blessings on this family as they see their precarious situation soon coming to a dead end.

Christians should not conform to the world’s value standard in dealing with life’s trials and hardships, but rather rise above them by allowing Jesus carrying our burden, for his yoke is easy.

It appears prayer is more powerful and comforting than empty words or hollow suggestions, as I saw the father’s teary eyes at the end.

Everyday is a challenge, but in Him we’ll receive sufficient insights and wisdom to overcome, in Jesus holy name I pray, amen (Brother Mike Chan sharing)