牧者心聲

（一）一個月前，爸爸離世後兩天，我回到辦公室，從信格取來一個公文袋。打開一看，是一本關於如何面對哀傷的書。我頓時心頭一暖，眼眶微潤；不用翻閱手中的書，那份被記念、被安慰的感受已經貫注內心。「是誰送來這本書？」公文袋上只有簡單的英文名，沒有姓氏。後來確認了這位「有心人」是其中一位同工，便親自向他道謝。他告訴我，那本書原是為自己買的──他有一位感情深厚的親屬身患重病，他想為將要面對的失去作點心理準備。後來，另一位同工也經歷喪親之痛，於是他把書借給了對方。直到他知道我也經歷失去摯親的傷痛，他便情商對方先將書轉借給我。感謝兩位同工與我分享這份輔導材料，默默分擔了我的傷痛。

（二）去年，我帶爸爸往西貢半日遊。自從他不良於行後，已超過十年沒有到郊外走走了。出發前，我向一位住在西貢的幼稚園同學請教地道美食，他起初推薦了一兩間食肆，隨後致電說可以與我們一起吃午飯。最終，他陪伴我們漫步西貢碼頭，一邊閒聊，一邊拍照，然後與他的太太和兒子會合，一同飲茶。當我自作聰明，暗暗地往收銀處付賬之時，才發現這位好客的老同學早已悄悄地付款給魚檔，挑選了肥美的海鮮，請酒家為我們預備大餐。他沒有說太多客套話，卻以請客、接送和「現身」，表達了他對老朋友和世伯的愛與重視。雖然他還未信主，卻以行動實踐了「客要一味地款待」（羅十二 13）的教導。

（三）許多年前，教會某個角落發生小火警，驚動了消防員前來協助。火勢很快被熄滅，幸好除了起火物品外，沒有波及其他地方。事後檢討時，我發現起火物品屬於我所認識的一位肢體，而我沒有察覺該物品正處於充電狀態而無人看管。正當我為著自己可能有的疏忽而感到不安時，一位同工對在場的人說：「這是一次意外。」一句簡單的話，卻讓我如釋重負，讓我感到不是被追究和問責，而是被明白和體諒。多年後，我跟這位同工重提此事，他好像早已忘記，只淡然地說：「相信當時我只是說了該說的話。」那句他口中「當說的話」，對他來說是微不足道，但對當年的我而言卻是無比重要，充滿著對我的愛護和肯定。

弟兄姊妹，你們又想起哪些藏於／見於骨節裡的愛心言行？保羅勸勉哥林多教會：「你們的一切要在愛中成就」（林前十六 14，原文直譯）。讓我們不僅被別人的愛感動，也在一切事情上（不論大小），以愛成就他人。

  (1) A month ago, two days after my father passed away, I returned to the office and found an envelope in my pigeonhole. When I opened it, I found a book on how to face grief. At once, warmth filled my heart and my eyes grew moist. Even before I opened the book in my hands, the feeling of being remembered and comforted had already filled my heart. “Who sent me this book?” There was only a simple English first name on the envelope, without a surname. Later, after confirming that this “thoughtful person” was one of my co-workers, I thanked him personally. He told me that the book had originally been bought for himself—he had a close relative who was seriously ill, and he wanted to prepare himself emotionally for the loss he might soon face. Later, another co-worker also experienced the grief of bereavement, so he lent the book to that co-worker. When he learned that I too was going through the pain of losing a loved one, he asked the other co-worker to lend the book to me first. I am grateful to these two co-workers for sharing this counseling resource with me and quietly sharing the burden of my grief.

  (2) Last year, I took my father to Sai Kung for a half-day outing. Since he had become mobility-impaired, he had not gone out to the countryside for more than ten years. Before we set off, I asked a kindergarten classmate who lives in Sai Kung for recommendations on nice local food. At first, he recommended one or two restaurants, but shortly afterward he called and said that he could have lunch with us. In the end, he accompanied us as we strolled along Sai Kung Pier, chatting and taking photos. Then we met up with his wife and son and went for dim sum together. When I thought I was being clever and quietly went to the cashier to pay the bill, I found that this hospitable old classmate had already paid the seafood stall in secret, chosen some fresh and plump seafood, and asked the restaurant to prepare a feast for us. He did not say many polite words, but through treating us to the meal, driving us around, and simply being present, he expressed his love and regard for an old friend and his elder. Although he has not yet come to faith, he lived out in action the teaching to “practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).

  (3) Many years ago, a small fire broke out in one corner of the church, prompting firefighters to come and assist. The fire was quickly extinguished, and thankfully, apart from the item that had caught fire, nothing else was affected. During the evaluation afterward, I found that the item belonged to a church member I knew, and I had not noticed that it had been left charging unattended. Just as I was feeling uneasy over what might have been my negligence, a co-worker said to those present, “This was an accident.” That simple sentence lifted a heavy weight on my heart. It made me feel that I was not being investigated or held accountable, but that I was understood and empathized with. Years later, when I mentioned this incident again to that co-worker, he seemed to have long forgotten it and simply said calmly, “I suppose I only said what needed to be said at that time.” What he called “what needed to be said” may have seemed insignificant to him, but to me at that time, it was immensely important, filled with care and affirmation.

  Brothers and sisters, what words or actions of love hidden in or revealed through the smallest details come to your mind? Paul exhorted the church in Corinth: “Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). Let us not only be moved by the love of others, but also build others up in all things (whether great or small) through love.