http://blog.xuite.net/brotherwilliam/hkblog
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Friday, 11 October 2013
掉進iPad的廣告中
http://flashon.com #143
這個夏天，探訪了中國農村的一間教堂，我本來去是要訪問幾位修女，剛好遇上教堂兒童暑期道理班，修女們都忙，要我稍等一會。此時，一批不到十歲的孩子打羽毛球作樂，樂在其中，挺可愛的，我本能地從背包掏出iPad跟這群小天使拍照；我指給他們看他們的影子被捕捉了，他們便開始注意我，走過來圍著我，要看個究竟。
看到畫面上有他們的樣子，還會動的呢，便即時起哄，頓時間，一大群小孩都吸引過來了。哈，原來平板電腦的好處，就是讓照片清楚與多人一起觀賞，不用瞇起眼睛看照相機後的小小螢幕。iPad的另一個好玩的地方，就是它只有一個按鈕，光是在螢幕上擦啊擦，就可以控制。小孩子看到我就是這樣擦，就能轉出下一幅照片，感到有興趣，爭先恐後來擦過痛快。
至於影片，示範了一次如何按圓圈中的三角形就可以播放，小孩子馬上學會。他們按完又按，擦完又擦，好不開心。後來，我告訴他們我有好幾個挺有趣的應用程式，一個是考考眼手協調的彈珠迷宮，一個是繪圖，幾乎不用示範，他們就能用手指塗鴉起來。想不到，他們最喜歡的，卻是Candy Crush。
老實說，像我這種年紀的人，對蘋果有一定的信心，覺得這品牌的產品令我放心到，可以雙手把平板電腦交給素未謀面的農村小孩，也沒有半點害怕。不過，說到底，iPad的interface做得超級user-friendly是真的，使人因此也變得友善起來：這個簡直是iPad的廣告故事。
從一條鄉村到另一條鄉村，雖然他們的暑期道理班早已結束，但小孩仍是一大堆。小孩在等大人在教堂裡面唸經祈禱。（在教堂中喃喃唸經祈禱是香港的天主教會見不到的：每天早晚兩次村民都到聖堂內誦經唸早晚課，男女分開左右坐，一大堆經文都朗朗上口背誦，不用神父主持，教友們自己帶領。）我不會唸那些經，在堂外閒著；面對一大堆小孩，我有了經驗，我不用開口說淡而無味的漢語，只要拿出iPad，就吸引了小孩，頓時笑聲此起彼落。
一位駝背大嬸從堂裡出來，看到底是誰用一塊發光的魔術板逗她的一群小孩那麼開心，原來這幾位都是孤兒，得到這位善良愛心媽媽接納到家裡，給他們家庭溫暖。閒聊之間，明白到這位孔貞蘭女士，在這個山西晉中祁縣九汲村已經很出名的，三十多年來家裡義務收容了三十來個殘疾男女棄嬰。她自己的孩子，成長在這種愛的氛圍中，自然都選擇了繼續愛的使命，一個去做了神父，一個當了修女。
沒有生命的iPad，讓人與人之間的距離拉近，令我能夠把笑容及笑聲帶回都市生活，更使我接觸到感動的生命故事。生命觸動生命，從此開始。
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
都市心靈綠洲
Flash On Magazine #142
如何可以在鬧市中一洗心神的塵囂？除了閉目養神、用音樂把耳朵塞住、或走入健身室做瑜珈，可否想過，香港這個國際都會，都有一些心靈綠洲？
雖然我是天主教的修士，但要列舉香港的心靈綠洲，我立刻想起中環黃金地段的聖公會聖約翰座堂。一步入這些新哥德式建築，頓然有一種心神安然的感覺。儘管堂外花園道車水馬龍，裡面有古色古香的木長櫈，配以很亞洲味的藤製的靠背及座位。我仍是中環人時，喜在中午午休時入內稍作默想，或去聽座堂舉辦的午間音樂會，真的可以洗滌心靈。任何時間去St John’s，都不乏遊人在內看那描繪香港歷史的玻璃窗畫，或充滿寓意的地上階磚。座堂北面的空地，地面上畫了個像迷宮的「明陣」，不怕路人看的話，可以嘗試走走看。老實說，聖約翰有一種的welcoming是很難得，任何人要入內看看坐坐，都無需預約，這種歡迎walk-in，其實代表了上主的歡迎。
第二個我會列舉的心靈綠洲，是鑽石山的志蓮淨院及相連的南園蓮池。從地鐵站步出來，越過山門，就進入淨院的庭院。真的很愛那仿唐的全木建築，光是這樣木造的空間，就使人頓覺已經是一種境界。我去佛寺，當然不是參拜佛祖，而是去沾染那安寧的靈氣，與院外的荷里活廣場，截然是兩個不同的世界。雖然這個宗教與我的不一樣，但一樣注重精神文明，都能給予心靈慰藉。
第三個的心靈綠洲，我會選天主教的聖母無原罪主教座堂，同樣是逾百年的仿哥德式建築，雖然她躲在堅道明愛中心後面，沒有那樣讓人看到。不多人知道，在那屏風大廈後，是天主教在香港的總部，正如教會社會福利事業，成為了教會的公共面貌。步入教堂內，就被那悠長尖拱劵的迴廊、聖像、玻璃畫所營造的神聖氣氛所吸引。在教堂中心，在主祭台上，吊了一個手繪的十字架，上有耶穌受苦像，背面有一棵生命樹。在兩旁的小祭台，分別有聖心祭台、聖若瑟祭台、專為紀念列任主教、及敬禮中國殉道聖人的小祭台。值得一提的是，座堂的各玻璃窗，都是教會聖人，但有兩幅現代的玻璃窗，分別刻有中國及香港教會歷史人物。
其實心靈綠洲，不一定要是與信仰攸關，非宗教類的心靈綠洲，可能算起來，會比宗教場所更多。第一個想到的是香港藝術館，雖然它樸實的外表不怎樣代表到館內典藏的豐富。要得到心靈滋潤，不一定要與宗教相關的展品，光是看常設展，也可以領略到心靈的舒暢，因為每一位的藝術家，不論其信仰是什麼，都是心靈大師，因為在創作過程中，他們都在發揮心靈寶貝。所以藝術館的大門，都邀請人進入心靈的空間。
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Monday, 19 December 2011
I don't see what you see?
LISTEN
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?"
"No I don't," said the little lamb.
"I don't see what you see.
"You're a wind who blows in the night
"And you don't have the power of sight.
"And you don't have the power of sight."
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Maa-ahh-ahh-ahh!"
"Maa-ahh shepherd boy?"
Did you hear what I said
Maa -aa
Do I have to say it again?
Do I have to say it again?
Said the shepard boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?"
"I know a lot more," said the king.
"Because I went to college.
"I am smart and you're a silly fool,
"Who didn't finish high school."
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?"
"No I don't," said the little lamb.
"I don't see what you see.
"You're a wind who blows in the night
"And you don't have the power of sight.
"And you don't have the power of sight."
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Maa-ahh-ahh-ahh!"
"Maa-ahh shepherd boy?"
Did you hear what I said
Maa -aa
Do I have to say it again?
Do I have to say it again?
Said the shepard boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?"
"I know a lot more," said the king.
"Because I went to college.
"I am smart and you're a silly fool,
"Who didn't finish high school."
"Who didn't finish high school."
Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
"I don't want to hear this song again!
"Won't you please stop singing?
"This song is dumb. It shall not be sung!
"If you do, you ought to be hung!
"If you do, you ought to be hung!"
Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
"I don't want to hear this song again!
"Won't you please stop singing?
"This song is dumb. It shall not be sung!
"If you do, you ought to be hung!
"If you do, you ought to be hung!"
Monday, 21 June 2010
CLOSING OF THIS BLOG
I don't think anyone is reading this. So I might as well close this blog once and for all and rely on FACEBOOK to share my thoughts.
http://www.facebook.com/brotherwilliam
God bless!
http://www.facebook.com/brotherwilliam
God bless!
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Feast of Corpus Christi
Normally on a Sunday I would "say a dry-mass" at this priest-less mission in Sqi, a tiny cluster of dwellings of the Atayal people. But today being the Feast of Corpus Christi, it is the patron feast for the mission in Fuxing, and the parishioner from Sqi would go. So I was going to have a Sunday off. But our Provincial Minister is in Assisi for the General Chapter at this very moment, and he was supposed to show up at graduation of one of our high school too. Since he is no St Anthony so bilocation is out of the question. The Vicar Provincial asked if I would be interested. I was not interested at all. But at the end I changed my mind and decided to go because no one else could show up on his behalf. As part of the communiyt that runs Franciscan schools, I think I should share some of the responsibilities.
The graduation ceremony was very - homely? More like a Christmas Talent Gala with awards and prize giving in between, rather than graduation ceremony with entertainment in between.
Out of pure naivety, I actually prepared an A4 full page speech. I was told to be expected to say something. I remember when I was a teacher at SJSS, how graduation ceremony was done so I prepared my speech - till midnight.
I left the friary to go to the venue (not at the school) early in the morning. After getting off from the Highway, it has taken me 20 minutes to drive around the block to find the venue. I thought I would arrive in good time to be prepared. Well, at the end, as the representative of the Chairman of the School Management Board, I gave some prizes. I gave a very short version of my talk -since there was no podium and really by that time, I realized it was not appropriate for me to be preachy. The Vicar General of the Archdiocese came - on behalf of the Archbishop. He gave a little sharing and that was enough preaching for the day.
My reflection: why on earth would a Catholic School schedule graduation on Sunday morning?
I had to go to mass last night so I could go to this Speech Day this morning. I wonder if the Catholic principal or the teachers would do the same.
Some of the guests wore suit and tie. But not the teachers. The teacher who led singing the national anthem was wearing a polo and black slacks. Yes, smart casual but inappropriate according to my books.
When I was asked if I might leave early, I said surely. But it took me another 10 minutes to find my way back to the interchange.
On coming back, I had to take Raphael to the HSR station. I was tired and hungry and after more driving, I quickly devoured the dumplings for lunch and took a nap. At 3, I took Lorenzo and Francis Mary to a retreat house where they would be doing a week long guided retreat.
I dropped in to see our friars in Taishan - got my habit mended by an aspirant who was gifted in using the sewing machine.
After vespers, at dinner, I was introduced to Debbie Wang, an American who has this great heart wanting to do evangelization work for the Chinese in the Diaspora. Wow - a lay woman missionary! She even wanted to start a school to train other missionaries to do the same thing!
So after supper, I had a long talk with her and was just amazed by her zeal. God surely has a way to save His people. Debbie could speak wonderful Mandarin and her ministry is called Queen of China Ministries.
When I came back, there were so many cars that I couldn't get back to the exit lane and I missed my exit. So an extra 10 minutes on the highway. No wonder I am tired today....
The graduation ceremony was very - homely? More like a Christmas Talent Gala with awards and prize giving in between, rather than graduation ceremony with entertainment in between.
Out of pure naivety, I actually prepared an A4 full page speech. I was told to be expected to say something. I remember when I was a teacher at SJSS, how graduation ceremony was done so I prepared my speech - till midnight.
I left the friary to go to the venue (not at the school) early in the morning. After getting off from the Highway, it has taken me 20 minutes to drive around the block to find the venue. I thought I would arrive in good time to be prepared. Well, at the end, as the representative of the Chairman of the School Management Board, I gave some prizes. I gave a very short version of my talk -since there was no podium and really by that time, I realized it was not appropriate for me to be preachy. The Vicar General of the Archdiocese came - on behalf of the Archbishop. He gave a little sharing and that was enough preaching for the day.
My reflection: why on earth would a Catholic School schedule graduation on Sunday morning?
I had to go to mass last night so I could go to this Speech Day this morning. I wonder if the Catholic principal or the teachers would do the same.
Some of the guests wore suit and tie. But not the teachers. The teacher who led singing the national anthem was wearing a polo and black slacks. Yes, smart casual but inappropriate according to my books.
When I was asked if I might leave early, I said surely. But it took me another 10 minutes to find my way back to the interchange.
On coming back, I had to take Raphael to the HSR station. I was tired and hungry and after more driving, I quickly devoured the dumplings for lunch and took a nap. At 3, I took Lorenzo and Francis Mary to a retreat house where they would be doing a week long guided retreat.
I dropped in to see our friars in Taishan - got my habit mended by an aspirant who was gifted in using the sewing machine.
After vespers, at dinner, I was introduced to Debbie Wang, an American who has this great heart wanting to do evangelization work for the Chinese in the Diaspora. Wow - a lay woman missionary! She even wanted to start a school to train other missionaries to do the same thing!
So after supper, I had a long talk with her and was just amazed by her zeal. God surely has a way to save His people. Debbie could speak wonderful Mandarin and her ministry is called Queen of China Ministries.
When I came back, there were so many cars that I couldn't get back to the exit lane and I missed my exit. So an extra 10 minutes on the highway. No wonder I am tired today....
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