An Enlightening Advent Retreat

It was the feast of Christ the King yesterday and an Advent retreat was held for the Mong Ha Sunday school staff.

Father Joey Mario O. Mandia, our retreat director, inspired us greatly with useful information in relation to Christ’s kingship. With special emphasis on our need for regular confessions, he explained very carefully how we should live our lives on earth in order to enter the Kingdom of God after death. Finally, he discussed how we became united in the kingship of Christ through baptism and how we should share in His kingly, priestly and prophetic offices in our everyday lives.

His talk initiated a lot of our thinking. And we appreciated the opportunity to ask related questions at intervals throughout the discussion. Indeed a lot of questions were raised and Father Mandia not only answered every one of them with patience and wisdom but also guided us to explore deeper into the issue being discussed.

Among the questions, a few were related to Penance, Absolution and Forgiveness of Sins. We were particularly curious about Hell and Purgatory. There was, for example, concern about the Final Judgment for our friends and relatives who were unfortunately deprived of the identity as children of God. Though Father Mandia humbly referred to this as one of the questions to which only God has the answers, what he said lessened our anxiety and brought us hope about helping our dear ones.

Personally, I was inspired most by Father’s advice to examine our consciences in light of the Ten Commandments. He suggested doing this three times a day. This is good preparation for a confession. What I had not thought of before was the fact, according to Father Mandia, that while reflecting on our wrong deeds, we sometimes discover something good about ourselves. We can then focus more of our efforts on our goodness, however trifling in amount, and gradually achieve reconciliation with God. This, I think, is the best thing that can happen as a result of an examination of conscience.

I am not sure if I am capable of a daily examination of my conscience. But I am very thankful to Father for a very enlightening retreat. His advice has helped me make up my mind to be more serious about going to confession regularly and about the fulfillment of my kingly, priestly and prophetic duties in my life as a Christian.

Do everything to stamp out school bullying

Picture from "South China Mornng Post"

    

News about the recent bullying incident in a Hong Kong primary school is horrifying. The school authorities are blamed for inadequate attention to the victim’s complaints and for seeming nonchalance about the injuries, both physical and mental, done to him as a result. As the case is now under police investigation, it remains to be seen whether such criticism is justified. However, the case undoubtedly draws attention to the need for more preventive measures before school bullying goes beyond control.

As I see it, schools should attach greater importance to children’s character formation. While equipping children with knowledge and skills may ensure better career prospects, moral education can help them grow to become decent members of society in the future. Children should be guided to understand that the school is a miniature society in which all members should treat one another with respect and friendliness. They will then learn to be caring about others’ needs rather than their own. While still competing fairly for better performance, they will not do injustice to others out of selfishness.

In addition, teachers should be watchful about the children’s unusual behavior. Special attention should be directed towards a child found to be exceptionally quiet or emotionally unstable. Children’s complaints are not to be taken lightly, and bullying incidents, when identified, should be taken care of before they get aggravated.

The part parents play in the child’s character formation is of greater significance as the home is the first place for the promotion of friendly and respectful relationships. Parents should also be careful about their children’s proper use of electronic devices to minimize their exposure to the effects of media violence. In fact, parental guidance on the proper use of the mass media can help children adopt good habits and have a good understanding of interpersonal relationship.

In brief, the school is a place where children should feel safe and enjoy learning and making friends. Everything ought to be done to stamp out school bullying altogether.

Movie review - "Their Finest"

I decided to watch the movie “Their Finest” because of its claim about the British sense of humour. Eager to appreciate the witty dialogue, I was all ears right from the very start. I did not disregard the Chinese subtitles completely, though. Taking care of both languages at the same time could be a bit tiring especially when there were so many details to take in for a good understanding of the story as a whole. But it was worth all the while. I enjoyed the dialogue and regret my inability to remember some of the witty lines.

“Their Finest” is a movie-within-a movie. It is a period piece (1940). During the London Blitz of World War II, Catrin Cole, the leading actress, is recruited by the British Ministry of Information to write scripts for propaganda films from a woman’s perspective. The entire movie is about the formulation of the script ideas and how the script undergoes reconstruction as the movie shooting is in progress. It’s interesting how the script writers, Catrin Cole and Tom Buckley, communicate with each other and with the other crew members about the best presentation of the story. Ideas and dialogue work out among the team and wittiness is often what each of them needs to win the others over in an argument. There are thus plentiful comic moments. And it is Ambrose Hilliard, the one playing the role of 'Uncle Frank', an old actor, who carries most of the wit and humour of the film. Though wearing a sober look on his lined face, he brings laughter almost every time he starts talking. One of his best quotes is: “I can mime smoking but I can’t mime smoke.’

It is the time when London is under nightly attack by the Luftwaffe, but the film is not intended to cause fear or bring tears to your eyes. Though deaths of known characters are reported from time to time, the work of script writing goes on unhindered. Tom Buckley is once seen writing the script on the typewriter when German planes start bombarding London with bombs again. Little disturbed, he simply turns the volume of the radio up to cover the air-raid siren. Everyone seems to have learned to live with such chaos for, though sad at the losses, they know well that life must go on. Is this one of the inspirations for us, people who take a peaceful lifestyle for granted?

“Their Finest” also has some romance in it, though the romantic part seems to come a bit too late. Shortly after the two script writers have declared their love for each other, Tom Buckley is knocked down by a fallen shelf and dies instantly in front of her very eyes. Such a tragedy comes as a heart attack. But the movie still lives up to its claim as a comedy and will not allow the audience to leave with a heavy heart. 'Uncle Frank' pays a visit to Catrin Cole, who is too grieved to get back to her script writing. He says something about ‘death not being supposed to dominate life (the exact words are lost) ’. And after his departure, the lady cheers up miraculously. She is soon found to be watching the film, the one for which she has written the script, tearfully and smilingly, with satisfaction and pride on the face. The movie is a tremendous success. She resumes the work of script writing, with Tom Buckley in her heart as if he were still there working with her, sharing a hope to contribute something meaningful in this time of war and in their own lives.

The movie is a must- see. I recommend watching it twice, once to enjoy the story itself and the second time for the pure enjoyment of the beauty of the script, if, like me, you are interested in something with a Britsh sense of humour.

Stay tuned

(https://www.facebook.com/dsejejd/photos)

Some friends ask me why I have been sharing the videos of teachers posted by the DSEJ. My answer is very simple: they are worth sharing.

Having once been an interviewee myself, I understand very well how much effort has been put into the production of a video of this type. The closing credits showing the list of the crew members involved throws light on the different stages of production. The filming alone may have taken months. Often quite a number of people appear in the film besides the interviewed teacher himself. The scene of the shooting may also vary widely according to the event chosen. Following this are the various post-production processes. In brief, a lot of work is entailed before the final product is ready for broadcasting.

The main attraction, however, is the film itself. Each of the documentary films is dedicated to one particular teacher to be paid tribute to. In the film, the teacher shares freely about himself and about his work. Having once been a teacher myself, I find it interesting to learn about the experiences of other teachers, especially those working on subjects different from my own. It is a great delight to find out how we share the same ideas in our attempts to enhance our students’ academic motivation and, on the other hand, how we differ in our approach when confronted with similar problems. I marvel at one or two creative methods mentioned. Frankly, I would have borrowed them for my own teaching if I had learned about them before my retirement.

From their sharings, I have identified a few concepts that are common among all the interviewed teachers. Almost all have remarked on the need for the teacher to play the role model with his attitude, his expertise and his great sense of integrity. He can then influence his students with his enthusiasm about teaching; if the teacher enjoys teaching, the students will enjoy learning too. Besides, it is essential for the teaching to be coherent with the needs of the students. This can be done by establishing a close teacher-student relationship through frequent contact outside the classroom. It is also emphasized that the teacher should remain persistent in his efforts even in the face of the most difficult problems.

Though a retiree now, I still see this as a great opportunity for teachers, interviewees and viewers alike, to learn from one another's teaching experiences.

Indeed, I am much impressed by the high level of professionalism with which the documentaries are made. A few of this year’s series are scheduled to be broadcast in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Some considerations about Macau’s Smart City Development

picture from http://europe-ul.com/makes-smart-city-smart/

It is reported that Alibaba group will collaborate with the Macau government to turn Macau into a “Smart City” with the use of cloud computer technologies. This is welcome news to us Macau residents as it brings hope about creating more sustainable environments in our city.

Personally, I am particularly interested in the suggested use of artificial intelligence to optimize transportation management, as traffic congestion has been one of Macau’s ingrained problems. Based on information from different resources, I would like to point out the importance of new urban mobility with reductions in car use and ownership as well as increases in cycling, public and shared transport.

One suggestion is the adoption of the digital car sharing system, which enables people to share the use of a car without having to own one themselves. The individual members of the car-sharing community will have their complementary driving needs identified by an advanced algorithm that uses social profiling and geo-location. An app will help one locate the nearest of the vehicles parked on the city’s streets. After use, the car can simply be parked within a designated area in the city for the next user. The members can thus enjoy the freedom and benefits the car affords without shouldering huge costs. They also play a shared role in reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion.

Besides, I am in favour of a bicycle sharing system. It can be an even better solution to problems of traffic congestion, noise and air pollution by providing access to bicycles as another choice besides motorized vehicles. The bicycles can also connect users to public transit networks, thus solving what is often known as the “last mile” problem. What’s more, e-bikes could be a new tourist attraction, enabling the tourists to move around the city with better ease. As in the case of the car sharing system, great convenience is ensured with the use of smartphone mapping apps to show the locations with available bikes.

However, whether Macau will become a “Smart City” depends very much on government policies and the residents’ support. It is hoped that the above mentioned measures will be given favourable consideration as they are likely to contribute to Macau’s better environments by making a great difference to the current condition of transportation.

Movie review - The Red Turtle

Where animations are concerned, my personal preference often involves beautiful natural scenery and hyper realistic images, whether hand drawn or digitally generated, that seem to be the work of an artist. And it was with these elements that “The Red Turtle” became my first choice of a series of films offered by the “World Animation Festival in Summer” now in progress at the Cinematheque Passion.

The film is in fact a display of artistic pictures and images that look like those in real life. There are scenes of the undersea world, beach rocks the man climbs up and down, incoming and outgoing tides, sunrise and sunset as well as long straight trunks of bamboos in a rainforest. In fact, watching the film is an experience of browsing beautiful paintings in a moving panorama. And, as in almost all animations, especially a dialogue – free one, there are fantastic sound effects that bring the various scenes to life, such as the pattering of the rain, the roaring of the waves, the thundering of the tsunami, etc. In fact, with the eyes closed, the viewer could imagine himself enjoying the stunning performance of a brilliant orchestra.

Of course, I did not go to the cinema for the mere enjoyment of the paintings and music. The film does tell a story. It seems a survivor story in the beginning. The man, washed up onshore after a ship wreck, makes repeated attempts to build a raft with the hope of sailing out to the sea, but getting more agitated and frustrated each time the raft is battered and scattered into pieces by an unseen creature. The viewer would thus expect his continuous fight with the attacker until his final victory. But, unlike Robinson Crusoe, who succeeded in leaving the island eventually, our hero in the story spends the rest of his life there with the Red Turtle, the creature responsible for the destruction of the rafts, which has turned into a woman.

So we may consider this a magical realism story. There is unspeakable love between the couple. They somehow make me think of Adam and Eve as they are the only humans on the island. They get along so naturally with the other creatures that they seem to have become part of Nature and Wilderness themselves. The birth of a child makes no difference to their harmonious and peaceful life. As the child grows up, however, he gradually feels the call of the sea. And then the day comes. He bids his parents good-bye and swims out to the sea accompanied by a trio of red turtles. We are thus reminded that he is himself a red turtle. The story ends with the mother turtle also swimming back to the sea after the death of her husband in his old age.

The story is simple and with few dramatic elements. I am not even aware of a special message for the viewer to ponder. It may not be appealing to kids. However, I appreciate the feeling of comfort it affords, the kind of peaceful comfort I would enjoy while reading a novel, preferably on an island as peaceful as the one where the castaway had a romantic encounter with a turtle-turned woman.

This is how a child ought to be treated, austic or not

"Life, Animated” was my first choice of a series of documentaries offered for the month of July. It is about the long struggle of a boy named Owen to survive the long period of darkness in which he was trapped by autism.

Owen was diagnosed to be autistic at the age of three. The years that followed saw his parents struggling with the specialists to help him recover his lost speech and to come out of hiding. There was little success at first. When he was six, however, Owen made his first attempt to utter a word. To his parents’ surprise, he was found to be making use of Disney animated movies to make sense of the world he was living in, the ordinary world. His parents then started talking with him in Disney dialogues. He thus gradually learned to speak and navigate the social world.

Owen spent hours immersed in animation in another way too; he produced his own cartoon stories. There was one in which he portrayed himself as the protector of sidekicks. That was the time when he was troubled by school bullying. His drawing thus relieved him of negative emotions, giving him comfort and security.

The movie is honest about Owen’s struggles as well as his family’s. Disney movies had not made life a bed of roses for Owen. He could not easily tackle the challenges on his path to independence. He chose to watch “Bambi” on the first night when he was on his own, showing his anxiety in the absence of his mother … just like the little Bambi. And when he had fallen in love with a girl, his brother worried about his lack of knowledge about lovers’ intimacy. But before this problem was solved, something happened which gave them a still harder nut to crack. The girl soon broke up with him and he felt as though it was the end of the world. Finally, he managed to make sense of his heartache by drawing and navigate his way through the rough reality.

It was with joint effort that Owen’s family had succeeded in setting Owen up in life. They had jumped into his language, and into his world rather than bringing him out to where they were. They had shown with their experience how the autistic child’s affinity … his love for Disney movies … could be explored to provide a pathway for his social and personal growth.

“Life, Animated” is a story of love and resilience. It inspires us with the message that to help an autistic child, there is no professional, no fixed way. What needs to be done is to recognize the joy in the child and respect the child for what he is instead of the person they wish he could be.

Isn’t this the right way a child ought to be treated, autistic or not?

Students can be brought together to form a “meaningful” community

According to the article “Group Therapy” on the Digital Life page of the South China Morning Post (June 3, 2017), Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook chief executive, wants to use his social network to foster “meaningful” communities and bring the world closer together.

I agree that the idea of mere sharing of pictures and live videos among circles of friends and family is already outdated and that people of shared interests can be nudged into online groups, sharing thoughts, offering support and organizing events. Here I would like to suggest that among the proposed “meaningful” communities can be one formed by students with the aim to enhance their academic motivation.

Recent research shows that social networking can serve effectively as an education tool, enhancing students’ academic ability and boosting their learning in various fields. It has also been proved that the more often students make use of social networking, the more involved they are in school activities. They can thus enlarge their social circles and seek help more easily when needed.

Besides, students can broaden their horizons by social networking with their counterparts overseas. Learners of different cultures can communicate and be empowered to explore new ways of thinking and learning. By sharing the teaching and learning materials, they can work on joint projects, thus getting involved in global problems and concerns, to which they can come up with innovative solutions.

Moreover, social networking is capable of enhancing students’ social capital, which is associated with the ability to secure benefits by virtue of membership in social networks. Imagine being a member of a group composed mainly of students of a world famous college! Undoubtedly, youngsters with accumulated social capital have an edge over others in their future development.

Last but not least, students engaged in online communications can develop a sense of belonging to the community with an openness to varied ideas. And this is exactly how Facebook can help make the world a less divisive place.  

Do gleaners deserve better social attention? – movie review -- “The Gleaners and I”

https://www.facebook.com/CinemathequePassion/photos/a.495826130541565.1073741828.481600895297422/550228945101283/?type=3

I had doubted how a movie could last for more than an hour without a story to keep the audience amused until I watched “The Gleaners and I”, a documentary. Though lacking in amusing elements, the movie grabbed my attention all the way through.

As shown in the poster with a few females bending over what appeared to be stems of wheat, the word “gleaners” first appealed to me as women gathering a ripe crop from the field. The movie, however, shows gleaners of various kinds. There are gleaners seeking to survive on leftovers on farms, in orchards, vineyards and even oyster farms after the harvest. There are also urban gleaners who live off discarded produce in the streets.

The movie thus brings to light the problem of wastage in both rural and urban areas. Because of overproduction, a lot of potatoes, apples and grapes are left to rot on the ground. Similarly, over consumerism has led to huge amounts of unwanted goods thrown in the streets.

However, such revelations are not meant to sadden the audience. The gleaners, rural and urban ones alike, appear to be enjoying themselves. Without the least sign of self-contempt, they talk cheerfully about their experiences. One interviewee boasted of staying in good health despite his decade-long consumption of discarded outdated food. A lecturer who teaches French to immigrants is found to be feeding daily on vegetables thrown out of fresh markets. In response to the director’s curious questions, he can even explain the nutritious values of the vegetables he chooses. Another hopeful delight is the exhibition at which everything on display is picked up from the street. So gleaners are not limited only to those suffering from poverty. And there are other claims to the unwanted goods than just something to fill the stomach with.

The word “I” in the movie name suggests that the director has a part to play in the movie. Indeed she can be considered a gleaner herself. With the use of a handheld digital video camera, she travels from place to place, gleaning ideas, images and people’s emotions to make her film. She does gleaning literally, too. She has a collection of abandoned objects gathered on her filming trips. What impresses me most is a glass enclosed clock without the hands. “Then,” she says “I won’t have to think about the passing time”. The heart-shaped potatoes are another pleasant surprise.

In this age when there is so much talking about environmental protection and waste reduction, the movie offers another perspective from which we can ponder the issue. Gleaners perhaps deserve better social attention for their contribution to the idea of turning waste into value.

Let me sum up by saying that documentaries can be interesting. They are more true to life than ordinary kinds of movies, even those about a life event, as documentaries show the real world we are living in.

P.S.
If you are interested in documentaries, there is a series to be screened in Cinemathetique - Passion in July.
https://www.facebook.com/CinemathequePassion/

Understand and manage the blues

https://www.facebook.com/uiuhkcampus/photos/pcb.1458469904211003/1458469837544343/?type=3

Most of us see depression as a disease waiting to be cured. In his article “Living the blues” on the SCMP on June 10, however, Elbert Lee discusses depression as an issue that is closely related to personal growth and can turn a person into “a fuller, deeper, more resilient human being.”

I agree that depression moods, often referred to as the blues, are a psychological issue of great significance especially to young people as they inevitably come with adolescence. At this stage there may be some changes in their mood and behavior. Parents and teachers ought to be careful to distinguish between normal changes and symptoms of depression. Depression, if diagnosed, should not be allowed to exacerbate for it can take a severe form and can even be fatal as is evident from the sudden death of Elbert’s close friend.

On the other hand, if well managed, the blues can actually serve very beneficial purposes as suggested in the headline. Elbert states that depression can arouse an awareness of certain complications or shadows of life. Young people then understand that life is not all about pursuing wealth and happiness, and that they ought to ponder, experience and explore the darker side of life in order to learn from it. This can be of a better healing effect than what the usual antidepressants can achieve. More importantly, this can lead to their growth with better character strengths.

Elbert even points out that the blues can contribute to artistic and innovative production. We are not short of examples of very touching stories written by authors in their worst moods ever. Artists who are down in the dumps may also produce paintings that tug at our heartstrings.

In brief, depression is part of life. It is especially important to help young people understand their depression more in order to manage it well.

Film Review – ‘The Long Excuse’

“The Long Excuse” is a story about Sachio Masahiro Motokia, a celebrity writer, whose wife, Natsuko Eri Fukatsu, dies in a car crash. He does not at first feel the loss and even appears in a TV program with pretended bereavement. Then he meets Yoichi Omiya, a truck driver, who is left with two children to take care of after the death of his wife, Natsuko’s friend, in the same accident. Sachio offers to look after the two kids when Yoichi is at work away from home. He does this probably because he finds it difficult to proceed with his life. It is during this time that he begins to ponder his own life, his disloyalty in marriage and his lack of children. He finally allows himself to face up to his guilt and sadness and finds a renewed purpose to life.

The film is touching but not tear-jerking. In fact, it is beautifully orchestrated between joy and sadness. There are even some good laugh-out-loud moments. I enjoy how Sachio, with the help of Yoichi’s little girl, messes around with the housework. He cares so much about the girl’s sensitivity to seafood that he makes sure there is none even when buying creamy buns. It is a heart-warming scene when the girl actually has to push him from behind when he fails to cycle up a steep slope where her mother used to take her on a daily ride.

Sachio’s dealing with the boy, on the other hand, appeals more to the emotions of the audience. The mature and melancholy boy is deeply grieved at the loss of his mother, secretly lamenting that the misfortune has not fallen on his father instead. Contemptuous of Yoichi’s ignorance and inability to cope, he decides to give up enrolling in high school in order to take care of the family. In the boy Sachio sees a young man with a strong sense of responsibility, who he himself has never been. However, Yoichi’s involvement in a car accident while at work finally convinces the boy of his attachment to his father. Sachio also takes the chance to advise him to treasure everyone in the family for, all of a sudden and for no reason at all, they may be gone forever.

“The Long Excuse” is a love story. It is about love that is lost and then rediscovered. It is a movie that will leave you feeling happy and sad at the same time.

Spiritual Retreat in the Ward – my stay in hospital (3)

For the Holy Week, I had been assigned a few responsibilities. I was to be the commentator for the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. Besides, on Good Friday there was the Way of the Cross on the Gia Hill, for which I was the lector at one of the stations. In addition, there was the commemoration of Jesus’ crucifixion in the afternoon. Most importantly, the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday was an occasion I had attended annually over the past years. And the Baptismal ceremony would mean much to me this year as I would be the godmother of one of those to be baptized.

Because of my hospitalization, I was deprived of the chance to participate in all these events. However, I decided not to be left out. And out of the mercy of the kind Lord, I did get involved in the Holy Week commemoration amidst the pain and dizziness.

The lingering dizziness meant that I had to keep my eyes closed most of the time though my mind was wide awake. There was no reading or watching TV. The only thing I could do was to listen to songs on the mobile phone. I chose religious songs appropriate for reflections on Jesus’ agony, death and resurrection. There was one named ‘Four days late’ about Jesus raising Lazarus from death four days after the funeral. I kept playing the song again and again and felt elated each time by the singer’s bright and ringing voice singing the line “He’s still on time!” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=se7yAkqu3Ek).

When the dizziness was less disturbing, I browsed the websites with the hope of stumbling upon the live broadcast of a church event. Very fortunately for me, I visited the site of our Cathedral and was able to watch the ceremony of the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. I felt touched by our Bishop’s humility in kissing the parishioners’ feet.

 (https://www.facebook.com/secathedralmacau/videos/1776393412374711/)

On Good Friday evening I intently searched on YouTube for videos displaying the devout participating in the Way of the Cross. To my delight, I found one with a voice reading the related Bible verses, guiding the viewer to pray and then meditate on Jesus’ agony station by station. I found this very useful in helping me reflect on Jesus’ great love for us. I looked at the scenes of Jesus’ passion, the cruelty of which I had dreaded previously. Thinking of His suffering, I found my own pain negligible.
(https://hk.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-search-sb&p=%E8%8B%A6%E8%B7%AF%E5%8D%81%E5%9B%9B%E7%AB%99+%E9%BB%98%E6%83%B3Youtube#id=6&vid=3431390fb2912055aa0a3a3b89c1a430&action=click)

At other times when there was not a ceremony going on, I watched online sermons of different priests. Actually, I had had the links forwarded to me before but very seldom did I care to watch them as I was preoccupied with either one thing or another. In hospital, however, I managed to pay good attention to the preaching and get really inspired.

Gradually recovering, I was able to do some reading. It was a book assigned by our reading group. Without disturbance from the everyday trifling matters, I enjoyed the reading far more than I usually did. I also got a flood of inspiration ready to share about in my next gathering.

In a way I can see my hospitalization as a spiritual retreat. I did more praying and meditating with an increased awareness of the consolation from God’s presence amidst the pain I went through.

What loving our neighbours means - My stay in hospital (2)

When admitted to the ward well after midnight, I was aware of the presence of a roommate hidden behind a drawn curtain.  

Before daybreak, I heard people talking. It was an old woman’s voice asking to have the diaper changed. So, my roommate was bedridden. I admit, not without a sense of shame now, taking delight in the thought of having the bathroom all for myself, not realizing the high cost entailed. 

With limited mobility, the old lady had a small portable toilet by her bedside, which she would use for defecating. That was the time when I had to wait in the parlour, still attached to an IV tube, until the room was deodorized. It was a long wait despite the availability of a room air- purifier. And this could happen twice a day. I could not help complaining inwardly why she would not use the diaper instead. And, unfortunately, her bowel movements were her most favourite topic, which she would share with everyone of her visitors. Imagine how much this could spoil my appetite if it happened when I was supposed to be enjoying my meal! 

With the pain gradually lessening, however, I found the old lady less troublesome. In fact, she had apologized to me repeatedly for having made the room smelly. She had chosen to use the portable toilet to avoid adding to the trouble of the nurses, who would, otherwise, have to deal with increased messiness of the diaper. And her frequent mentioning of her bowel movements was due to her regret about causing too much trouble to people around her, including me. 

In my Sunday school teaching I have often talked about Jesus’ advice on loving our neighbours as we love ourselves. Who are our neighbours? How should we love our neighbours? I understand that the first step towards loving someone is to put ourselves in his shoes. Without feeling sympathetic about his needs, how can we even talk about loving him? Here is a case to which the truth of the saying can apply so appropriately. The old lady, my roommate, was my neighbour both literally and factually. I became more tolerant of her needs. I could have been a more difficult patient if I had been in her place.

So in the later days, I talked more with her, trying to relieve her of her uneasiness about her bowel problems. And I mentioned her needs in my daily prayer. Her daughter, who came three times a day to bring her meals, asked me to talk to her about Jesus. (She had found me listening to sermons online and decided that I was a Christian.) The old lady, a Buddhist herself, was happy about the idea. She was discharged two days before I was. When I said goodbye to her at the lobby, she promised to pray for me to her Guanyin (觀音). 

Thank you, Lord, for inspiring me with this life experience. With this, I believe I can more easily convince my Sunday school students that loving our neighbours can be a very simple thing we can do in our daily lives.

A blessing in disguise - My stay in hospital (1)

I was admitted to Kiang Wu Hospital with a fever and an acute pain in my right side in the small hours of April 11. And there I stayed for nine days …

On the first few days, in spite of intermittent intravenous medications, there was a lingering fever accompanied by shivering and dizziness. I felt sick to the stomach and the pain kept me awake well into the night. I went to the nurses’ quarters in the middle of the night asking for a pain killer, but was given an ice bag instead. “We understand how much you suffer,” a young nurse, the age of my students, said consolingly, advising me to stay in bed lest I should faint. Medications are not so freely administered, I understand. But when the pain is so unbearable, you just can’t help making unreasonable demands like a child.

When the fever had gone and the pain diminished, I regained my appetite. I ordered meals with much enthusiasm. The nurse who took my temperature showed a more encouraging smile each time. But the one in charge of my blood pressure gave me a less assuring look. The readings were far higher than those I had taken at home. “Did you not sleep well?” Well, that was the problem. For a person with insomnia, a hospital environment could only make the problem worse. So, I’ve got another problem to watch over.

During those days I thought a lot about the human body. It’s strange how much trouble can be caused when a single organ, which used to stay peaceful and unnoticed for years, decides to make itself felt. It causes pain, of which the acuteness and the affected area can increase if unattended to in time. And other organs may join in and the result can be a storm of protest, leaving the victim in great misery. And I finally came to the conclusion that good health matters a lot.

My stay in hospital has been a blessing in disguise. There I underwent a series of medical examinations, which I had disregarded for years. I must admit that ebbing health comes with increased age. I am also aware of the need to cut down on my commitments to ensure a more relaxed lifestyle.

My reflections on the film SILENCE

https://www.filmcomment.com/article/martin-scorsese-silence-interview/

The film ‘Silence’ is, as recommended, a movie too good to miss. It is both challenging and inspirational and can serve as a topic for spiritual reflection.

It is about two Jesuit priests, Rodrigues and Garupe, who, incredulous of the reports about the renunciation of faith of their onetime mentor, Ferreira, went to Japan in search of him. Like most of the other audience, I had been watching with the hope that they would be reunited with Ferreira and would then have the reports proved false. How devastated I felt when later on Rodrigues himself committed apostasy! What followed was equally, if not more, disheartening. He and his mentor, under adopted Japanese names, helped sort through religious iconography gathered from suspected Christians, thus shattering the last bit of my hope of their repentance.

But had Rodrigues given up his faith completely? What had made him decide to trample on the crudely-made image of Christ? Was it not out of his compassion for the few Japanese Christians who were being tortured? When his body was placed in a large round wooden casket ready for cremation after his death, he was holding the tiny crudely-made crucifix given to him when he first came to Japan. Could this have been a sign of his persistent faith? Or could he have evangelized his Japanese wife, who had put the crucifix in his hand, thus helping to plant the seed of the Gospel among the Japanese?

Could his apostasy then be interpreted from another perspective? He could have enjoyed the glory of martyrdom by dying for his faith. But he had chosen instead to live in shame and guilt as a fallen priest for the rest of his life just because of his love for the other Christians. Could such manifestation of love have been an element of true Christianity?

If Rodrigues could be spared criticism, who or what then was to blame for this? He had been praying unceasingly to God for help and guidance. But God seemed to remain silent. Sarcastically, for example, the moment he thanked God for sparing the lives of a few Christian suspects, he heard their horrified screams following the slash of a sword sending a man’s head rolling on the ground! Was God so cruel as to have turned a deaf ear to people’s sufferings? Would praying mean anything at all?

On the other hand, there were times when Rodrigues heard Jesus speaking to him: “I was there when you suffered.” And when Rodrigues was hesitant about trampling on His image, he heard Jesus’ voice, seemingly giving him permission to do so. Was God silent after all? Or could it have been the Devil or a mere illusion due to his subconscious attempts to justify his recantation of faith?

The story has indeed involved such unsettling ambiguities that we audience cannot be satisfied with the black-and-white meanings. I left the cinema with a lot of doubtful thoughts in my mind. However, rather than trying to analyze the ambiguities, I started to reflect on my own faith.

Born in a place and at a time blessed with the freedom of religion, I may easily be critical of others’ lack of faith. I may even claim to be a good Christian. But if I found myself in a place where Christianity were imperiled, could I be so sure of my faith? I admire the courage of the Japanese Christians who, though subjected to persecution, persisted with their hidden faith. They had not given up praying despite God’s silence. ChristKichijiro, the Japanese guide, may have been portrayed as a timid person who gave up his faith repeatedly. But in him I see genuine faith. He kept coming back to Rodrigues for the chance of confession even after Rodrigues had given up his priesthood. And when arrested for the last time, he was found to have cherished a small crucifix in his pocket. If Jesus had forgiven the crucified robber on his right, He would, undoubtedly, have granted ChristKichijiro absolution, too.

Silent as God always seems to be, I believe that He is with us if we keep a close relationship with Him through prayer. I have now decided on a more prayerful life. In my prayer I will always remember the ones who have sacrificed their lives for their faith as well as those who have renounced their faith under duress.