生命之橋
作者：盧國禮 翻譯：蕭凌
我們一家移民加拿大後，我在銀行裡找到了一份工作。或許你會以為我們的生活從此將一帆風順，可事實上我們的家庭生活此時早已危機四伏。首先，孤獨感一 直深深困擾著我的妻子，愈演愈烈地孤獨使得她處於精神崩潰的邊緣。醫生對她的情況束手無策，醫院裡開的處方藥不但對病情毫無幫助，還有使之更加惡化的趨勢。於是，因著妻子的病，我們決定重返故鄉香港。我們的生活彷彿又回到了原點。
此後，在漫長的十年中，我們四處求醫，而我妻子也逐漸恢復了健康。我們希望再次嘗試著適應加拿大的生活方式。經過深思熟慮之後，我們選擇在本拿比的鐵 道鎮落戶﹔我們作出這樣的決定，一來是因為我們已經習慣了在人群中生活，習慣了與商業中心、餐館和其它社區設施毗鄰而居--對於我們來說，生活的便捷非常重要。
很快，我又找到了一份能夠讓我大展拳腳的工作﹔與此同時，我們還添置了物業、轎車及一系列的生活必須品。然而我們的心裡總還是沒有平安。重返加拿大后 的頭一年，妻子兩次飛回香港，以至於我們一家都開始懷疑回來定居的決定是否正確﹔好在后來妻子從香港打來電話，說是在適應了溫哥華的寧靜之後，似乎已經不 再能適應香港的喧囂忙亂，我們的擔憂才煙消雲散。
在電話裡，我們列出了移居加拿大的種種利弊﹔最終，妻子雖然有點心不甘情不願，但是還在回溫哥華長住這件事情上達成了共識。我們之間的這次談話，也使 得我同意暫時辭掉工作，用更多的時間幫助妻子儘快適應這裡的生活。我的打算是為她尋覓一個適合她的社團，然后讓她加入到社團裡義工中去。這樣她的生活就能充實起來。
我聽說高貴林有一個 "中僑互助會"，於是便跟妻子一起參加了他們的耆英社。妻子在那裡結交了不少新朋友。她先是成為了那裡的義工，后來還獲得了到安老 院探訪的兼職機會。她在那裡跟長者們一起做遊戲、籌措聖誕晚會，在各種活動中都非常活躍。雖然參加義工服務和社區活動讓我們的生活變得更加多姿多彩，但在 我們的內心深處，仍然若有所失。「我們到底為什麼快樂不起來呢？」我們白思不得其解。
不久，妻子在就醫的診所裡認識了一位比她年長的太太。那位太太是信耶穌的。在這位太太的帶領下，我的妻子開始去到唐人街的一間教會參加崇拜。幾個星期後，我與妻子一起加入到了那裡的主日和查經小組。
靠著神的恩典，我們於 1993 年受洗歸入基督﹔從那以後，我們在主裡獲得了全新的生命，重新找到了生活的意義和努力的方向。我們住在耶穌基督裡：參加 教會敬拜和團契活動、祈求神的指引、學習關心愛護我們身邊的人並開始向他人傳揚福音。《聖經》告訴我們：「萬軍之耶和華啊，倚靠你的人便為有福！」（詩 84:12）﹔我們常常向神懷著一顆感恩的心，感謝祂的救恩和聖靈在我們生活中的引導。
當你讀到這個故事，我真摯地盼望你能早日相信神，祂的引導和護理。「你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為他顧念你們。」（彼前5：7）
「但到了神我們救主的恩慈和祂向人所施的慈愛顯明的時候，祂便救了我們，並不是因我們自己所行的義，乃是照祂的憐憫，藉著重生的洗和聖靈的更新。聖靈就是神藉著耶穌基督我們救主厚厚澆灌在我們身上的。」（多3：4~6）
無論在什麼時候，神的恩典夠我們用。讓我們一起禱告：天父，求你憐憫我們，特別憐憫我們當中那些還沒有認識你、相信你的人。主啊，我知道，你愛我們所有人。 求你賜恩讓我們能夠存著悔改的心來到你面前，求你能夠讓我們被主耶穌基督在十字架上所流的寶血所拯救。奉耶穌的名禱告，阿門。
Bridging Lives
By Francis Loo Translated by Evie Xiao
A few months after we immigrated to Canada, I got a job in a bank. You may think at this point that everything turned out fine for us. But something was unnoticeably wrong. Phobia as a result of loneliness deeply affected my wife before even we had realized to what extent our family was poignantly disturbed. Doctor's advice seemed to become useless. The more medications prescribed for her the further deterioration was her health. As a result, we migrated back and lived in the same district where we left--the clock was put back.
Over a long period of ten tedious years and having been to many doctors, my wife gradually recovered her health. We started to re-visit Canada every year for a few consecutive years. In the end, we chose to live in a high-rise in Metro Town. We so accustom to high density living that we favour easy access to shopping, restaurants and other facilities. Convenience complementing with accessibility are the prime consideration as we're aging.
Soon I got a job which fitted in with my working experience and professional qualifications. We bought an apartment, a car, and all necessary things. However, we were not living at all happy socially. My wife flew back to Hong Kong twice in the fist year, and we thought we had made the same mistake when we returned to Canada again. While she was staying in Hong Kong she phoned me complaining that she didn't seem to feel like or fit into the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong any more than that of the quietness of Vancouver.
We discussed at length balancing all pros and cons as to whether or not we should be residing in Canada. Finally, we concluded reluctantly that she ought to come back to Vancouver. Then we agreed that I had better quit my job to allow more time to help my wife to establish herself here. I was thinking of introducing her to a social group and, perhaps to some volunteer works merely to get her busy.
Then I learnt about the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. at Coquitlam. We joined the Senior Group there. She made new friends, became very active in their weekly meetings, volunteered works, and paid visits to an old aged home monthly and helped the senior bingo games and Christmas parties and so on. Having participated in volunteer works and community groups activities, we began to live a more meaningful and happy life. But there seemed something still missing deep in our hearts. We knew not what. "Why there is no joy in us?" We pondered.
About the same time, my wife chanced to encounter a senior Christian lady in the medical clinic, where both of them visiting. She right away introduced my wife to the pastor in a local church in China Town. In the following week, I accompanied my wife at Sunday worship and Bible class.
In the grace of God we believed into the Christian faith and were baptized in 1993. We've been living a new life ever since. Life has become meaningful and purpose-driven. We abide by Jesus Christ: we participate in church worship and fellowship meetings; we pray for God's guidance, we learn to care and love, and proclaim the gospel to others, God permitting. "O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." (Psalm 84:12.) We always give thanks to God for our salvation and guidance of the Holy Sprit in our lives.
Should you read about this story, I hope you will believe early into the God we trust for his guidance and providence. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7.)
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewed by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior... (Titus 3:4-6.)
God's grace is adequate for every situation. Let's pray, heavenly Father, have mercy on us, especially those who do not know you or have not believed on you. But I know Lord; you love us all the same. Give us the grace to repent with contrite hearts and to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ at the Cross. In Jesus' name, amen.