2022 年 1 月 29 日／30 日
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在暗角度過的「平安夜」
陳劍雲牧師
去年的平安夜，是今個冬季突然轉冷的前夕。社區見證部（簡稱「社見部」）同工將收集得來的新衣服、防疫和保暖物資，分給兩隊弟兄姊妹，當中有職青團契的團友和兩個家庭，包括還在讀幼稚園的孩子。他們走到街頭，以行動向我們的鄰舍「報佳音」。
在過去一年，社見部和弟兄姊妹定期進行社區探訪。所以，無論是在附近露宿的無家者，抑或是清潔站的員工和拾荒者，都漸漸認得同工的面孔。所以，這天晚上，大家除了分享物資、以「耶穌愛你」來祝福他們之外，還實實在在地和他們交談分享。有一位在清潔站的女士談到她正在上慕道班，很希望多認識主；也有拾荒者提到鄰近地區停收廢紙，令回收價大跌，影響他們的收入。令我最感深刻的，是一位在後巷暗角整理舊紙皮的女士，由於她不在燈火通明的清潔站，所以一般情況下，沒有人會留意到她。穿著單薄衣服的她，原來經常工作至凌晨兩、三點，但卻未能吃得飽、穿得暖。
貧窮人士的事情，我們或許可以從媒體的報道中略知一二。但是，惟獨親身細看他們的面容、衣服和身軀，細聽他們的聲音，撥一刻停留在他們的空間，呼吸他們在呼吸的空氣，這些人、這些事才會與你有關係。他們不是一個等待別人解決的社會問題，也不是叫我們因為做了些好事而使自我感覺良好一點的媒介，他們是一個向我們發聲、呼喚我們聆聽的生命。他們和我們一樣，也是世上的罪人，但是在他們身上，或許有更多被罪所傷的傷口，而且仍在流血。這些生命的接觸提醒我們，我們虧欠了這些在社會不公義底下受苦的鄰舍。
當天晚上，我們除了說「耶穌愛你」，也鄭重向這些街友說「多謝」，多謝他們對社會的貢獻。當天晚上，我們很感恩有小孩子和我們一起出去，小孩子送上禮物，就是最好的破冰行動，能帶來一份溫暖。當天晚上，我們留意到，在與人分享的事上，我們仍要不斷學習，每次出去，都令我們對這些鄰舍和他們的需要加深一點認識，並且明白要優先走向暗角，尋找最容易被忽略的朋友。因為，在第一個「平安夜」，天使就是向被人忽略和輕視的牧羊人，宣告給萬民的大喜信息。
但願常與我們同在的神，使用北宣家，領人進入祂的同在。阿們。
Pastor's Sharing "Silent Night" at a Dark Corner
Rev Lawrence Chan
Last Christmas Eve was also the eve of the sudden deepening of this winter. Our co-workers of the Community Ministry collected new clothing, anti-pandemic materials and warming supplies and gave them to two teams of brothers and sisters comprising young working adults fellowship members and two families, including their kids still studying in kindergartens. They put "bringing good tidings" to our neighbors into action by reaching out to them in the streets.
Brothers and sisters of the Community Ministry have been making regular community visits over the past year. Their faces are therefore becoming familiar to the homeless friends nearby, cleaning station workers and ragpickers. So, that evening, they were able to really talk and share with them other than distributing resources and blessing them with "Jesus loves you." A lady at the cleaning station said she was taking a seekers’ class and very much wished to know the Lord better. A ragpicker mentioned the neighboring districts had stopped buying waste paper, making recycling prices plummet and affecting their earnings. What struck me most was a lady tidying up carton paper in the dark corner of an alley. As she was not at a brightly-lit cleaning station, she was not noticed by anyone under normal circumstances. Wearing thin clothing, she often works until two or three o’clock in early morning and yet cannot eat enough or dress warmly.
We may get a glimpse of lives in poverty from media reports. But you won’t really connect with them or what happens to them until you meet them in person – see their faces, clothing, bodies, listen to their voices, spend some moments to stay where they stay and breathe the air they breathe. They are not a social issue waiting to be resolved, nor are they a medium for us to feel better about ourselves after doing some good works on them. They are real lives talking to us, calling on us to listen to them. They and us are the same, as sinners in the world. But perhaps they carry in their bodies more wounds inflicted by sin, and which are still bleeding. The encounters with these lives remind us that we owe our neighbors who are victims of social injustice.
That evening, besides saying "Jesus loves you," we solemnly expressed "thanks" to these friends in the streets. We thanked them for their contribution toward society. That evening, I am grateful that we were accompanied by some kids. Their giving out of gifts was the best ice-breaker that brought warmth. That evening, we realized that we still need to learn continually how to share with others. Each outreach allows us to know our neighbors and their needs more deeply. We also understand that we should first head for the dark street corners to look for those who are the most easily neglected. It is because on the first "silent night," herald angels had first proclaimed to the shepherds, who were often neglected and belittled, the good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
May God, who abides with us always, use the NPAC family to lead others into His presence. Amen.
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