In the past few weeks, I took leave to visit my friends and relatives in China. Due to Covid, it had been more than three years since I last went back. Seeing my family and friends once again brought me enormous joy; at the same time, it made me aware of the swift passing of time, and our inability to predict or control our circumstances.
Almost every time when I met up with friends during my vacation, our conversation would inevitably turn to the different experiences we had during Covid, and how those experiences moved us to consider our lives from different perspectives. Before the pandemic, it was normal for people to go about their daily routines and plan for their future. The pandemic has totally turned what we used to consider as normal upside down. As for myself, I never thought that it would take three and a half years before I would return to be with my family and friends again.
Most of my family members and friends in China are not Christians yet. Along with their lamentations over the ephemeral nature of things in this world, they were also curious about my Christian faith. At the same time, they each have their own interpretation of faith and belief, e.g. religion encourages people to do good and is a source of spiritual support; people who are religious tend to be more reliable, etc.
Interestingly, during those moments in our conversation when I was eager to explain what faith was, I realised that my family members and friends were not keen on hearing my explanation. In fact, they were immersed in their own interpretation and imagination. I must admit that for people to be able to know Jesus, we need God to work in their hearts in His time and according to His plan. The good news is that I believe God is guiding them in their search for the truth. Whether it be the pandemic or the transient nature of this world, it has awakened the desire for eternity in people’s hearts. A friend of mine experienced the loss of a family member recently. This brought about a softening of her heart – she began to acknowledge that there was a spiritual realm beyond mere physical existence, and that there might really be a God. I believe this was a good start.
We all hope that one day our loved ones can receive God’s salvation. Nevertheless, we know that true change cannot come about just by relying on our own wisdom and ability. We need to work together with God. Our Lord is a God who listens to prayers, and He has never stopped His work. Let us continue to pray fervently, bear witness to Him in every opportunity in our daily lives, and expect our Lord to accomplish His wonderful deeds.
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過去數週，我休假回中國探親。因為疫情緣故，我已經有三年多的時間沒有回國了，再次見到家人朋友，親切欣喜之餘，也感嘆時間過得飛快，許多事情都不是我們能夠預料的。幾乎每次朋友在見面聊天的時候，都會聊起疫情期間的各種經歷，也會聊到這些經歷如何觸動人們開始從不同角度思考自己生活。本來，大家都是按部就班地過著自己的日子，對於未來也有各種計劃和安排。然而，一場疫情，徹底打破了我們習以為常的生活。就我自己來說，也從來沒有想過，竟然要過了三年半的時間，才會重現回到家人朋友的身邊。我在國內的家人朋友們，大部分都還不是基督徒，一邊感嘆世事無常，一邊也對我的信仰有些好奇。然而同時，他們也有著自己對於信仰的解讀，譬如，宗教都是勸人為善的，是人的精神支柱，有信仰的人比較可靠一點，等等。有趣的是，雖然這種時候，我很想解釋信仰是什麼，卻發現大家並不關心也不期待我來解釋，只是沉浸在自己的理解和想像之中。我必須承認，能夠認識耶穌，仍然需要神親自在人心裡動工，神有祂的時間和計畫。可喜的是，我相信神正引導他們在尋求之中，疫情也好，世事無常也好，喚醒了人們心裡對於永恆的渴望。我有一個朋友，因為遭遇了親人的生死離別，她心裡的剛硬開始改變了，她開始承認，人是有靈魂的，神有可能是真的。我相信這是一個好的開始。
我們都盼望所愛的親人朋友可以得到神的救恩。然而光是靠我們自己的智慧能力，是不能使人真正改變的，我們需要和神同工。神是聽禱告的神，祂也沒有停止祂的工作。讓我們繼續堅持不懈地禱告，在點點滴滴的生活細節中為他作見證，期待神成就他自己奇妙美好的作為。
