<生命过客>

2008年12月30日
2008年的最后几时个小时该做什么？


感恩！为生命。
珍惜！身边的人。
乐活！为拥有的。
自由！为失去的。
解脱！所放弃的捆绑。

让生命看透我，才会融入生活里。

2006年初从怡保调往首都，又可在吉隆坡总教区牧民学院服务，是一些修女梦寐以求的任务。我却因着自己对牧民的执著而反抗了几个月。终于生命看透我，我，终于融入生活，生活也拥抱着我。生活给回我所给她的。

团体：从自我到真我到无我。团体是爱德的学校。是塑造真我的地方。

灵修：从自我到真我到无我。开始效法圣保禄：我活，已不是为自己，而是耶稣在我内生活。

牧民: 从自我到真我到无我。处于牧民培育，我活出最真我，更学习无我。

生活，可以是很简单，纯朴，但一样过得充实。

年即将结束，但它带来开始。才记起计划给吉隆坡总教区设建部落格。今天终于做到了。

吉隆坡总教区牧民学院
http://muminxueyuan.blogspot.com/

看到吧，结束，只是开始！

<放松乐活才获乐>

很久没有放松自己，做随心，随兴的乐活了。

今晨，约了同事到黑风洞运动。第一次，也是最后一次到黑风洞是在小学六年级时，1979年吧。对于它完全没有印象，更甭说记忆啦。

第272级，我们在15分钟里登到最高一级。


后来又去了对面的 Kepong Metropolitan Park走了1个多小时。


在回家路上，我们走访了Kolam Air Panas Selayang，看到3个热水池，还有一个热水泉，热泉冒着蒸汽。我们下回再下水。

下午趁着还有体力，快乐地洗了两辆团体公用的车，因为是我负责管理，保养，还有定期给它们洗刷。洗车也可以是乐活的事！

<小小圣婴，大大使命>

2008年将临期与圣诞节
今年将临期：
急于培训
忙于讲座
乐于避静
静于祈祷

小小圣婴，大大使命。
圣诞节就只在12月25日吗？
圣诞期就止于耶稣受洗日吗？
其实，圣婴小耶稣每一刻都在诞生。

圣诞节已过，但圣诞节精神永长存：

*那里有爱，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有宽恕，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有平安，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有喜乐，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有亲情，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有接受，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有人情，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有正义，耶稣就在那里诞生。

*那里有真、善、美、圣，耶稣就在那里诞生。

今年，我亲生体验了耶稣圣诞，她/他们把耶稣带入我的生命：

1) 4月：她已是73岁高龄，心却是火热的，为教会，为教友，为天主。她让我用她的车，陪伴我到文德甲给牧民培训。她把耶稣带给了我。

2) 4月：她加入我们的团队。每次会新山老家时，车就放心给我看管，当然也乐于让我们用车。她让我省下许多精神与时间，更省去很多劳累与奔波。他让我看到耶稣的面容。

3) 5月：他很几次很乐意载送我到各个堂区进行牧民活动。他让耶稣探访了我。

4) 6月：她每次在我夜回时，总是等着我，弄热了美味的药材汤等我回来。她让我体验了耶稣的爱，无条件的，完全的。

5) 7月：她放下一切，之为了陪伴我们实行任务。她教会我什么是完全的付出。

6) 8月：她说，我每天以名字为你祈祷。她让我享受了耶稣的临在。

7) 9月：她接受我，就是这样的我接受我，分享生活，快乐与痛苦。她给我体验耶稣无条件的接受。

8) 10月：她陪我出席在马六甲青云亭的文化活动。耶稣是真实的。

9) 11月：她特地绕道送我回修院，因为我牧民培训工具太重了。耶稣再次探访了

10)11月：她从文冬载送我回到修院，让我赶得及出席在巴生重要的分享会。耶稣诞生了。

11)12月：在走投无路时，她找上了我，做回她自己。她显现了真实的耶稣。

12)12月：在路上看到他们，我学会感恩。耶稣你也探访了他们吗？

13)健康出问题，找到专科医生，他检查完毕，除了药费，护士说医生不收你们的钱。他让我看到耶稣给予百倍的赏报。

14)...... 耶稣就是每天藉着不同的人与事诞生了。我看到耶稣的面容。生活就是五颜六色，多姿多彩，酸甜苦辣。藉着祈祷与灵修，天主的圣宠，是我学习编制生活，利用色彩创造美丽的生活彩图。在生活舞台上快乐起舞。


我期望同样向旁人显示耶稣的脸容！

小小的圣婴，承担重大的使命！

今年圣诞期：
急于拜访
忙于交流
乐于助人
静于省思

*一个伟大、全能的神，却选择做个平凡无助人：耶稣为此诞生了！

*一个不会死的神，却选择做个会死的人。他的复活却把死亡弄死了：耶稣为此诞生了！

*一个人跌倒了，自己无法站起来，神弯下身子，把人拉起来了：耶稣为此诞生了！

*人，犯罪放弃了天主，无法再达到天主；天主唯有寻找人，甚至变成人一样来找寻人：耶稣为此诞生了！

*人远离了天主，天主唯有变成人来提升人到天主前：耶稣为此诞生了！

*我们的天主是个寻找人的神：耶稣为此诞生了！

耶稣的诞生：

**马槽：La mangiatoia (意大利文：放食物给动物吃的槽，意即：耶稣要做人的生命之粮)



今天在城中某购物中心看到的圣诞节装饰，很商业化了。难道这就是圣诞节吗？


这代表圣诞节吗？圣婴在那里？

<12天圣诞节>

第一次听说有12天的圣诞节是两年前，很好奇。
今年特地要好好听一听。
原来它有那么美好深远的历史与神学背景。

The Twelve Days of Christmas (12 Days of Christmas)!

The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) start with Christmas Day and finish with the eve of Epiphany on 5th January. The Twelve Days of Christmas dates back to English origins in the sixteenth century although the music is reputed to be French. The first publication date for The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) was 1780. Each of the The Twelve Days of Christmas has a religious significance and are symbolised following the lyrics of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)

1 True Love refers to God

2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed


On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

<圣家节>

今天是圣家节。
今天也是Datok Raymond 及他太太Datin Sylvia的结婚51周年纪念日。我和另一位修女特地到Jalan Gasing的St. Francis Xavier's Church (SFX：圣芳济莎勿略堂)参加弥撒，也为他们夫妇祈祷祝贺。

进入圣堂，很特别的圣水池，一只麋鹿喝着溪水



祭台两边有漂亮的彩绘玻璃：右手边(上图)是圣母蒙召升天的画像，左边(下图)则是耶稣善牧图


简朴的马槽与墙上高挂的十字架成了很完整的救恩图


闪亮的星星带领许多人找到耶稣


王子，天主子就在马槽中诞生了



很高兴看到教友特别为有特别需要的兄弟姐妹做手语，以手语祈祷，赞美，朝拜天主。
他们还可以用手语“唱歌”，歌声来自挚诚的心。



杨神父特别在弥撒后降福这对夫妇


今天认识的新朋友，SARA，她的父母也庆祝结婚11周年，等着神父降福。
她也等着神父降福她手上的洋娃娃。只可惜，无法如愿。

<诱饵战术>

IS THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL MESS GOING TO AFFECT US? LISTEN TO THIS STORY AND DECIDE.

A MOUSE TRAP STORY.. . . . AND IT IS ANIMATED WITH A MORAL AT THE END.



A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - - - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, he mouse proclaimed the warning :
There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,
"Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap, alone.

That very night a sound was heard through out the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital
and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you,

remember ----

when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life.
We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Author Unknown

<小小婴儿，颤动的希望>

A Tiny Baby, A Quiver of Hope
'We are called to let God's love become incarnate in our own lives.'
By Margaret Silf | DECEMBER 22, 2008

Two greeting cards have been occupying my thoughts. Both were sent to celebrate the birth of a new child, my first granddaughter. Both have a great deal to reveal about God, as well as about their senders.

The first comes from a dear Jesuit friend now in his mid-80s. He writes directly to the newborn, addressing her by name and expressing an understanding of God’s ways that completely overturns the usual notions that surround the coming of a new baby. He begins by welcoming her, and saying how glad we are that she has come to join us “down here.” He notes that she has arrived four weeks ahead of schedule, and adds that he is delighted; this reveals that she is eager to be here and ready to make an early start on whatever it is she has come to do for us.

What a difference! To regard a newborn child not just as a helpless tiny person, dependent on us for everything, cute and cuddly but, after all, “just a baby.” But rather to revere this newcomer for who she truly is—“a spiritual being on a human journey,” whose life has some unique gift to bring to the whole human family. I feel the goose bumps rising on my skin as I realize the impact of what this wise friend has written.

The second card is addressed to me. It tells me that “this baby has some terrific footsteps to follow.” It brings tears to my eyes, to go with the goose bumps. I had never thought of it like this. Will these footsteps—my footsteps—really help to lead this little one in the direction of life in all its fullness? It turns any sentimental baby-gawking into a call to accept a new and daunting responsibility—to walk a path that helps to lead another in ways of love, justice and integrity.

In one sense, this tiny baby leads us, helpless though she is, because she is the future. In another sense she follows where we lead, and our own experience and convictions will help to guide her steps. She leads. She follows. Both cards speak a profound truth. Each life, including yours and mine, is a space for God’s dream to unfold in a unique way. Helpless though we may feel and, like my granddaughter, very premature, this does not alter the staggering truth that we are here for a purpose, a purpose that was known to God before we were conceived. Even before our universe flared forth from its first beginnings, the core of our being was held in God’s heart. The discovery of that purpose starts when the midwife places us in our mother’s arms, and it continues as we search out God’s ways through the tangle of our daily lives. It is a purpose that only God-with-us can fulfill.

Very soon we will be celebrating the arrival of another baby. Every year this season calls us to contemplate what was really going on in that manger in a remote town in the Middle East, and to reflect on the reverberations of that birth all down the intervening centuries. We think of a little family, struggling, surely, with the momentous events that have overtaken them and turned their lives upside-down. Every baby does that, but this one does it on a grand scale. We watch as the ancient tale unfolds, as they trek to Bethlehem to do what needs to be done to comply with administrative authority. We crouch in the corner of the stable and let ourselves be present to the most intimate of moments, as the new parents hold their child, perhaps already intuiting that in fact he is the one who is holding them.

When I reflect on these things, I am reminded of an interesting difference in the words that describe the event of going into labor and giving birth in the English and German languages respectively. In Britain we speak of a woman’s “confinement.” The event is focused on what is happening to the mother; she is confined to bed, she is going through a painful and sometimes risky process. The term has slightly negative connotations. In German the equivalent word is Entbindung, which means unfolding, unbinding, releasing, liberating. This expresses a very different view of the process, focused on the new life that is emerging.

We are the body of Christ today. We are called to let God’s love become incarnate in our own lives and situations. We are asked to give birth to something of God’s dream for creation, in the details of our own daily lives. How do we feel about our response? Is it a “confinement,” putting our religious life in a box and keeping it safely contained in practices that we can control? Or are we willing to risk whatever might happen if we truly invite God’s love and power to unfold in our lived experience? Most parents rapidly discover that though the baby books may give them detailed instructions on how to proceed, the new baby does not follow any rules.

We can expect to be surprised over and over by how the reality of this newborn child of Bethlehem unfolds in our lives. Will we keep him tightly swaddled in our own ideas of how he should be handled and how far he should be allowed to move and act, or dare we “unbind” him and set him free to transform our lives and our world?

This Christmas, in spite of economic gloom, a quiver of fresh hope really is palpable in our world. May this Child, whom we follow, give us the grace to become people whose own footsteps lead in the direction of peace, hope and new beginnings; and may we have the courage to set him free to surprise and challenge us around every turn of the coming year.

Margaret Silf lives in Staffordshire, England.

Her latest books are

Companions of Christ: Ignatian Spirituality for Everyday Living

The Gift of Prayer.

<圣诞节夜访>

圣诞节当晚，林神父邀请我们到他家出席圣诞节聚会。
林神父是总教区天主教研究中心的主任神父。
他邀请我们全体同事到他父亲家庆祝圣诞节。

当晚到了他家，才知道他父亲是拿督林芙蓉已是96岁高龄。我们祝贺他后，问他的岁数时，他说我今年69岁。他太太是朱影梅。冯宝宝是他们的谊女，在视听室里还有1999年冯宝宝送给他们她主演的杨贵妃录影带。

当晚受邀的多是教友们及林家亲戚朋友。我们渡过美好的圣诞夜。

离开林府，我心中出现了耶稣的一句话: "谁若愿意跟随我，该弃绝自己，背着自己的十字架来跟随我，
因为谁若愿意救自己的性命，必要丧失性命； 但谁若为我的原故，丧失自己的性命，必要获得性命。
人纵然赚得了全世界，却赔上了自己的灵魂，为他有什麽益处? 或者，人还能拿什麽作为自己灵魂的代价?"(玛窦福音16:24-26)

林家共有9个儿子，3个女儿。林神父是长子，可以继承林家产业，享尽世间荣华富贵，当时是一位律师，享有生活中最好的，当年要去修行做神父还要被家人误解；他毅然放弃一切勇敢跟随耶稣。今天全家人已领洗信主，只因为家人看到他的改变，看到他乐活。因为他选了最好的，他选择了永恒。

到了林府，大门入口处看到林老先生的英文名字简称LFY (Lim Foo Yong)在铁门的最高处。


往上行走约50公尺，就由这辆大房车欢迎我们。听林神父说它还可上街出游。


我们在一幅锦绣图前合照这幅30多年前在的刺绣图是林老先生的其中一个珍藏。

我的同事：(从右到左)Cecilia Wong(执行秘书)Fr. O.C.Lim (林神父：主任)Uncle Paul Kwan(财政)Raymond Si(Graphic Designer)Anna(Raymond 的太太，中国报记者)及笔者。


林家简单当年马槽


圣诞烛光，代表耶稣世界之光


离开林府前我们在花园合照

香车美人！


Uncle Paul 忍不住上车过瘾

<圣诞节>

2008年12月25日
今天赶不及在圣诞节发布此贴。
今辰赶紧把它贴上。


这是修院的马槽，简单纯朴。没有荣华富贵，更没有专科医院与高级产房。


只有牧童，牛犊与羊群在现场。


今年的圣诞节。
有别于其他年圣诞节。没有寄出圣诞卡，也没有贵重的礼物，只有心中为普世的祝福。还有4周将临期心灵与灵修的准备。
圣诞夜参加子夜弥撒。美妙，充满祈祷的歌声，简短的圣诞歌剧，还有隆重的弥撒祭典。回到修院也是午夜12点半。修女们简单的AGAPE，就是爱的聚会。歌声，笑声，欢庆声......。

圣诞节午餐，我们邀请在蒙福少女城的其他修女与我们相聚，我们共有11人。除了火鸡，意大利Lasagna，还有各式各样的糕点。除了谈笑声，我们数了我们过去无数个圣诞节的记忆。饭后印籍修女们都回家与家人过圣诞与新年。我们华裔修女们则看顾修院。农历新年我们才回家过年！

下午我们探访了一些朋友分享圣诞节的喜讯！

<妻子的空位>

我的妻子因為意外事故離開我身邊已經四年了，我想，妻子留下不會做任何家事的我和孩子，她的心有何等難過呢？我也因為無法兼顧父母雙親的角色而感到挫折。有一天我為了出差，清晨趕出門，無法將孩子打點好就得離開家，正巧前一天有剩下的飯，我熱了蒸蛋，向還沒有睡醒的孩子交代一聲，就出門去了。

為了照顧好孩子飲食三餐的事，我也無力把自己的工作做好。有一天晚上回到家，我只是很簡短地和孩子打個招呼，就因為身體疲累，不想吃晚餐，脫掉西裝之後就直接往床上躺下。就在那個時候，砰的一聲，紅色的湯汁跟泡麵瞬時弄髒了床單和被單，原來有碗泡麵在棉被裡！這小子真是的，說時遲那時快，我即時拿起一個衣架，跑出去，往正玩著玩具的兒子的屁股就打，因為我實在是太生氣了，所以不停地打他。但就在這個時候，他邊啜泣邊說了一段話，使我停了下來。

兒子告訴我說：「飯鍋裡的飯早上已經吃完了，晚餐在幼稚園吃了，但是到了晚上，爸爸還不回來，我就在櫥櫃的抽屜裡找到了泡麵。可是我想到爸爸說不能亂動瓦斯爐，所以我就打開洗澡的水龍頭，用熱水泡了泡麵，一個自己吃，另一個想留給爸爸吃。因為怕泡麵涼掉，所以我就把它放在棉被裡，等你回來。可是因為我正在玩向朋友借來的玩具，所以忘了跟爸爸講。」

我不想讓兒子看到我在流淚，所以衝到洗手間，將水龍頭打開，大聲地哭。過了一陣子之後，我打起精神來，一面哄著兒子，一面也在他屁股上擦藥，讓他上床睡覺。當我清理好泡麵弄髒的床單和棉被後，打開兒子的房門一看，發現他仍舊發出哭泣聲，手裡還拿著媽媽的照片。我把頭靠在房門站了許久，看著這一幕。

自從在一年前發生這件事之後，我為了扮演好媽媽的角色，更加用心地去照顧他。現在兒子快七歲了，不久後就要從幼稚園畢業，進入國小讀書。慶幸的是，兒子在這段時間毫無陰影，很開朗地成長。

就在不久前，我再一次打孩子，因為幼稚園來電話說，兒子沒有去學校，我心裡覺得很不安，所以早退回家，在整個社區裡大聲地喊他的名字，卻是遍尋不著。後來在文具店的門?f，看見他站在電玩的前面，於是我很生氣，又開始一直打他。兒子並沒有說出任何的解釋，只說了聲對不起。後來我才知道，原來剛好是幼稚園要邀請媽媽去看才藝表演的日子。

發生這些事的幾天後，兒子回家說，他在幼稚園裡學了寫字，從此他經常關在自己的房間裡不出來，很認真地寫字。我看到兒子這個樣子，想到妻子在天國也一定會因為看到他這樣而微笑，我就無法忍住淚水。

時間很快，又過了一年，到了冬天，街頭上都在播放著聖誕節的歌曲，我的兒子卻又闖了一個禍。我正要下班的時候，接到一通社區郵局的電話，說我兒子把一綑沒有寫地址的信，惡作劇地放在郵筒裡。每年到了年底，正是郵局最忙碌的時候，所以這對他們造成很大的困擾。雖然我已決定不再打孩子，但在急忙趕回家後，叫了兒子來，我又忍不住痛打他一頓。兒子這一次只是說他做錯了，卻沒有講出任何理由。我把他推到一個角落，不管了，自個兒跑到郵局領回那一綑惡作劇的信。我把信丟到他眼前說：「你為什麼要這樣惡作劇？」兒子哭著回答說：「這些信是我要寄給媽媽的。」

當時我的眼眶紅了起來，心裡很激動，但是因為在兒子面前，所以我盡量隱忍住沒有表現出來。我接著問他：「那麼，為什麼一次寄這麼多信呢？」兒子回答說：「以前我要把信投進去的時候，因為個兒太矮，所以沒辦法投入，但是最近我再去郵筒時，已經搆得到了，所以我就把以前沒有寄的，一次全部都投進入了。」

我聽了以後，心中一片茫然，不知道該對孩子說什麼話。過了不久以後，我就跟他說：「媽媽現在在天上，以後你寫完信，把信燒了，就能送到天國去。」等孩子睡著之後，我到外面燒了那些信。我很好奇到底孩子想跟媽媽說些什麼，所以讀了其中的幾封信。

而當中有一封信攪動了我的心。

親愛的媽媽：
我很想念你！媽媽，今天在幼稚園有才藝表演，但是因為我沒有媽媽，所以沒有去參加，我也沒有告訴爸爸，怕爸爸會想念媽媽。爸爸到處去找我，但我為了讓爸爸看到我很開心的樣子，所以故意坐在電動玩具面前，雖然爸爸罵我，但是我到最後也沒有告訴他原因。媽媽，我每天都看到爸爸因為想念媽媽而哭泣，我想爸爸也跟我一樣，很想念媽媽吧！但是，媽，我現在已經記不清楚你的臉。媽媽，請你讓我在夢中，再一次能夠看到你的臉，好嗎？聽說把想念的人的照片放在懷裡睡覺，就會夢到那個人。可是，媽媽，為什麼你沒有出現在我的夢裡呢？」

讀完這封信以後，我就開始嚎啕大哭。到底什麼時候，我才能填補妻子的空位呢？

給 已經結婚的女人：

不要加太多班，工作做不完，一定是公司的某些地方出問題了，一定要將問題反應給妳的老闆，一直加班也不見的有用的，請務必要照顧自己的身體，才可以好好疼惜妳的小寶貝。

給 已經結婚的男人：

不要喝太多酒，不要抽太多煙，請問我們的生意，我們的客戶，有比我們的身體重要嗎？
一定要想一想，有沒有辦法做到客人非我們不行，我們的差異化在哪裡，我們是否真的懂客人的心，這比拼命喝酒，還重要，請務必要照顧自己的身體，才可以好好疼惜妳的小寶貝和你的愛人。

給 還沒有結婚的男、女朋友：

美其實是從愛自己开始。

作者：佚名

<冬至吃汤圆家团圆>

2008年12月21日
冬至。我们要庆祝，为承传文化，为坚持传统，更为了保住节日的精神！

冬至，天主教徒该庆祝吗？
当然，它是华人传统节日，就好像春节。
有些人还是不明，那我只好说：虽然我是天主教徒，但它并不能改变我是华人的事实，我还是华人，我会做个华人天主教徒，我必须达到活出华人传统、文化与天主教的圆融。
冬至就是一个很好的传统节日帮助我做个更好的教徒。

耶稣本身也是生活于一个传统、文化与民族里。他并非在空无所有里诞生。
耶稣在世时同样的用当代人的生活来解释天国的奥秘。他更用了日常生活的人、事、物比喻天国。
耶稣也注重桌上的神学，餐桌上的交流(Table Fellowship)与团聚。

对于冬至，只知道是日短夜长。
认识冬至，家人团圆。
冬至，家人一起搓汤圆。
冬至，并不一定有冬天到来，只要家人可以相聚，搓汤圆，吃汤圆，就是冬至。
汤圆也并不一定要有五颜六色，也无需含有很多馅料。
汤圆也可以是粉红色与白色，清淡优雅，就像我们潮州人的汤圆。

今天是今年第四次吃汤圆：
第一次，她想家，我偷偷搓汤圆给她吃，她很感动。
第二次，我想家，我们决定搓汤圆来吃。大家很开心。
第三次，我们想吃汤圆，就搓汤圆吃了。
第四次，是冬至，我们没有搓汤圆，是邻居送来的，只是吃了汤圆汤里的龙眼、莲子、红枣......还有其他东西，最后才捞到汤圆。就是不一样家乡的汤圆口味，缺少了清淡优雅。

记得小时后，每当家有喜事，祖母或外婆或妈妈就会准备汤圆，要每一个人吃一碗。
农历新年初一，妈妈在除夕夜所做的最后一件事是要我们搓汤圆，她煮锅糖水，加入大片老姜，香叶及冰糖或蜜糖，熬出香甜的甜姜水，待冷却，明天清晨烫了汤圆倒入甜姜水里。

我总是喜欢在旁边看着汤圆熟时，一粒粒漂浮在热水上，妈妈就会捞起，倒入甜姜水里。我们醒来就要我们吃汤圆。

家里有娶、嫁，前夕必也要搓汤圆。印象里是我小姨出嫁前夕，外公和外婆开始搓了4粒很大的汤圆，置放在饭桌的4个角，然后全家人开始搓汤圆，外公外婆好像说了很多好话，好像在吟诗，我也不记得了。
如今，为了省事，妈妈只是煮大粒的Sago来替代汤圆，因为，传统汤圆已不受年轻人欢迎了。

几年前从一位老婆婆那里学到做汤圆的用料：
4人份

糯米粉：200克
粘米粉：100克
砂糖：1汤匙
盐：半茶匙

把以上用料参好，加入清水直到可以搓。
搓了白色汤圆，剩下3分1才随意加入喜欢的颜色，才不会过于鲜艳，且少用染料。
不必把汤圆搓隔夜，搓了马上煮，口感更好，也不会有粉未。

冬至，不仅仅是吃汤圆！
汤圆，不仅仅是在冬至时吃！
只要人在家园，只要团圆，随时可吃汤圆！
圆：是完整、无缺、包容、接纳......
圆：是人可以在同一屋檐下！

<灵之画>22

灵之旅：
谁是我？
谁是最真的我？

Margaret Silf talked about
"Journeying to Ground Zero" through death and resurrection!

Geting to the heart of the matter: The Russian Dolls


The image of the Russian Dolls tells of the agonising breaking of the one layer after another of "securities". As we move more deeply into the darkness, we accompanying Jesus into the breaking of all those layers, acknowledging our part in this breaking, but also sharing of the experience of being broken. Both these things are asked of us:



* To recognise the tendencies in ourselves that lead us to betray, deny, abandon, compromise and destroy the True Life in the core of our being, and in each other. But to affirm and strengthen those tendencies in us to remain faithful, patient, and trusting, bringing the True Life to new birth in every generation.

* To expose, for healing those parts of ourselves that have experienced what it
feels like to be betrayed, deserted, accused and condemned.

We come into this experience both as perpetractors and victims, yet neither of these roles is the final word. The final word lies right at teh centre of the set dolls, and as we shall discover, that centre is unbreakable.

The Breaking of the outer layers of security:
* Trust: Jesus is betrayed by one of His closest friends.

* Loyalty: Jesus is denied by one of His closest friends.

* Self respect and dignity: Jesus is stripped and humiliated, and mocked.

* Reliance on "justice" and the integrity of the "System".
Jesus can do nothing to defend Himself.

* Certainty about God and God's protection:
Jesus feels that God has abandoned Him.

* Finally: life itself

But the innermost doll is intact.
The core of our being is unbreakable!!

Reading about Jesus' final moments, in Matthew 27: 45 - 46
Bring to this prayer your own worst moments, your worst fears, your most destructive memories.
Sit there, in your own ZERO HOUR, with the Lord in His. Scream your own: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" if you need to.