Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

“here's a grief that can't be spoken. there's a pain goes on and on. 

Empty chairs at empty tables, now my friends are dead and gone.”

10th Anniversary October 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall Version.

Grief is the silent, knife-like terror and sadness that comes a hundred times a day, when you start to speak to someone who is no longer there. (Edgar Jackson)

Charles Swindoll, Growing Strong, p. 171.

标杆

2013年初，在观摩一次的真实辅导后，发现要当专业辅导员是必须谨慎遵守辅导学的原则。这跟一般的教牧辅导运作方式有不同之处。今天在上雷博士的辅导原理课时，跟同侪在讨论有关助人的风格时，理出了一个“要当辅导员，但又不愿意放下牧者心肠”的新标杆 - “不超越辅导的界限，不减少牧者的关怀”。

智慧者的言论

有深度的评论者不管是在讨论有关于政治、宗教或时事评论时，论点都是从透过相关的历史背景而做出全面性的探讨。重点是在鞭策因不良制度或政策手段所带来不公平的后果与可能造成的伤害，而从不是侧重于玷污或打击某方面或个人的形象。

以上的提示来自Dr Frank Macchia
"In politics, I love a good intellectual debate on the issues, especially if it focuses insightfully on their historical background and global setting. I covet especially a focus on consequences for those who have suffered most from the inequities of our institutions and policies. I hate a debate that focuses on tarnishing the other's image. It insults my intelligence and wastes my time. I have better things to do." 23.10.2012

2012 住棚节

五件事

1997

I was in the land (1997) when Bibi was the 14th Prime Minister. And now he is the Prime Minister again ... and i am going there again, this time to Mount Carmel School of Ministry ... rejoice! (September 25, 2012)

Today our worship leader wanted to sing a song from our long produced Chinese album – 祝福 (Blessings). I took out the album and listened to those songs again. I was in love with the voices and the lyrics ministered to me afresh.

I told Andrew that, I was pregnant with him when I did the recording of this album.

Then a thought came to me, I am to tell my dear friend that these songs are going to put colors into her season of life again, our voices are going to heard again. I have decided to use some of the songs for my coming “十架苦路” (Via Dolorosa) project…I am getting excited!

As I put back the CD into the casing, I realized that this album was produced in 1997!! Kairos. (October 5, 2012)

慢慢的突然

    最近很多人很好奇的问我，为何“突然”喜欢拍照？而这一个“突然”也让我起了好奇心！

依稀记得小时侯，妈妈就是喜欢把我装扮得漂漂亮亮，好让我当摄影叔叔的小模特儿。当自己身为妈妈时，我也常把Victor和Andrew打扮得“帅帅”的，而他们就是我的模特儿。我享受捕捉他俩小时候顽皮与幸福的笑脸，保存着两位小朋友多本厚厚的相簿是我收索回忆的良伴。

记得第一架数码相机是中文堂的弟兄姐妹送给我（现在继承给Victor）。有了数码相机，让我更加方便，除了能够随身携带，还能随身拍照！其实，一路以来我都很喜欢拍照！在中文堂的日子，早前有志敬，后来则由诗琴当我们的官方摄影师。自己嘛，因常站在讲台上，很自然的就成为了摄影师的对象。所以大家都很少看见我拿相机，而自己也渐渐地……忘了“我其实是喜欢拍照的！”。

回想起拍照的旅程，已有二十多年了。去年，我心血来潮，买了一台智能手机。随身带、随身拍的做照片札记。而这一次买了数码相机，又再次燃烧起拍照的热诚！这一个 “慢慢的突然”是“高瞻远瞩，鹏程万里”中的一个新里程碑。

Photo by: Gabriel Lee