牧者心聲

最近在長者科領袖退修營中，午餐席間閒聊之際，有一位退休多年的教會老同工，特意向我道謝，她還問我記不記得一件事。原來當年她一位至親離世，心中既難過又徬徨。當時我在旁問了一句：「有甚麼可以幫忙嗎？」她回答不知如何安排後事。我便找了負責安息禮拜的同工向她講解。畢竟這只是簡單的轉介，我能幫上的也就告一段落，所以我坦言已記得不太清楚。真沒想到，當年這一句問候，竟被她記掛到今天。

細想之下，我才是那個領受恩情的人。老同工退休前是教會的堂務同工，大家都稱她為娟姐。娟姐平日默默服事、絕少抱怨。那些年教育樓人來人往，打掃與收拾整理的事務甚是繁重，可想而知；但有娟姐在，心裡總能感到踏實與安心。

在我按牧那一年，作為準牧師要縫製新牧師袍。按牧當天，宣道會香港區聯會頒授了一紅一白兩條牧師帶。每逢宣道會牧師穿袍主禮，隨禮儀舉止而行，原本平整搭在頸項上的絲質牧師帶，擱在質地滑溜的袍上，往往容易滑移，顯得長短不一。

然而，我和許多北宣牧師的袍帶，卻從無這個困擾。原來是有針線手藝精巧的姊妹，在牧師帶的正中與袍子頸背領口的位置，加上「卜鈕」（金屬五爪扣）。於是無論我們俯身或伸手，牧師帶總不移位。而當年為我袍子操針縫扣的人，正是娟姐。是以，往後每次穿袍主禮，我總會記起她那份細密手工帶來的扶持。

七月下旬，敬愛的李思敬榮休院長息勞歸主。這讓我想起早年還是初職青年的我，以往少年時代的導師 Bernard 弟兄知道我有心研經，就順道帶我一同報讀中神的延伸課程。他就這樣陪伴我上了幾次課，卻由此打開了我讀聖經的眼界，其中李思敬博士的釋經講道，對我研讀舊約聖經更有莫大啟發。後來，我曾向弟兄道謝，他卻總是輕描淡寫地說，那只是微不足道的小事。

極微小的事，往往流露著真切的關懷——愛，正在細節之中。生命中有些出現在我們人生某個階段的人，只因察覺身旁之人的需要，就給予一句及時的問候、一點巧手心思，又或是一段結伴同行的時光。這些付出者作出看來毫不起眼的小事，卻能帶給人溫暖與及時的安慰，在生命路上給予扶持；同時，主能使用這些細節，讓人領受恩情，甚至在關鍵處推動他人前行一步，開啟靈命進深的歷程。

  Recently, at a retreat for leaders of the Elderly Ministry, a longtime church staff member who had retired for many years made a point of thanking me as we chatted over lunch. She also asked if I remembered a particular incident. Many years ago, someone very close to her had passed away. She was grieving and did not know what to do. At that time, I had asked her, “Is there anything I can do to help?” She told me she did not know how to arrange the funeral. So I found a coworker responsible for funeral services to explain everything to her. After all, I had only a simple referral, and that was the extent of my help. I therefore admitted that I could barely remember the incident. I never imagined she would still remember that simple expression of care all these years later.

  Upon reflection, I realized that I was the one who was truly blessed. Before she retired, this longtime staff member was a facilities attendant. We all called her Sister Kuen. She served quietly and rarely complained. In those years, the Education Center was always busy with people coming and going. One can imagine how much cleaning and tidying it took. Yet whenever Sister Kuen was around, we felt calm and at ease.

  The year I was ordained, I had to have a new pastoral robe made. On the day of my ordination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church Union Hong Kong presented me with two pastoral stoles, one red and one white. When Alliance pastors officiate at services wearing their robes, the silk stoles, originally draped evenly around their necks, tend to slip against the robe’s smooth fabric as they move through the liturgy, leaving one end longer than the other.

  Yet, I and many other pastors at NPAC have never had this problem. Some sisters who were skilled with needle and thread had sewn metal snap fasteners (prong snap buttons) onto the center of the stoles and the back of the robe collar. This way, no matter how we bend forward or reach out, the stoles always stay in place. The one who carefully sewed the fastener onto my robe was Sister Kuen. Ever since, whenever I put on my robe to officiate at a service, I am reminded of the support she gave me through her meticulous handiwork.

  In late July, our beloved Rev. Dr. Stephen Lee, President Emeritus of China Graduate School of Theology, was called home to be with the Lord. This brought back memories of my early working years. Brother Bernard, who had been my counselor during my teenage years, knew I wanted to study the Bible. So he brought me along when he signed up for an extension course at China Graduate School of Theology. He also accompanied me to attend several classes. That experience opened my eyes to a deeper way of reading the Bible. In particular, Dr. Stephen Lee's expository preaching gave me tremendous insight into studying the Old Testament. Later, when I thanked Brother Bernard, he would always brush it off, saying it was only a small thing hardly worth mentioning.

  Very small acts often reveal genuine care—love is found in the details. At different stages of our lives, certain people come alongside us. They notice the needs of those around them, and they offer a timely word of care, a thoughtful touch through their skilled hands, or some time walking with us. These acts may seem small and insignificant to the ones who give, but they can bring warmth and timely comfort to others, offering others support along life's journey. At the same time, the Lord can use these little things to bless others, even helping others take a step forward at a crucial moment and setting them on a journey towards deeper spiritual growth.