Issue #19
My First & Never Before + MCO Reflections By: Grace Kuan
Translated By: Chloe Woo
MCO or lockdown is a word that I have never experienced before in my life. The curfew happened on May 13 had not much impact on me as I was then still a kid. Many people agreed that Covid-19 MCO had brought a lot of changes in their lives. People had to readjust or readapt their lifestyles be it physically, emotionally, spiritually as well as rationally. Many WhatsApp text messages were sent with positive thinking advice as well as suggested activities with the aim to encourage, motivate and uphold one another during this MCO period. As I have been living a simple lifestyle, MCO does not pose a big concern to me although it may have brought some inconveniences in our mobility of going out from home. I would like to share some activities and reflections during the MCO time. My “first”and “never before” 1. Never before have I purchased so much groceries and food stuff in one go, to have food sufficient for at least 7-10 days. As a mother, I needed to plan and prepare meals for the family of six. As a result, my kitchen becomes a mini market with all kinds of wet and dry food stuff. 2. Never before have I tried baking and making food from new recipes googled online. As cooking is not my forte, as compared to teaching, I do it for the needs and health’s sake of my family. I took the courage and tried these new recipes. I felt satisfied with a sense of achievement and satisfaction when the results of the food turned out well. When we were allowed to travel more than 10 KM from home, I was prompted to share the above homemade food with my next-door neighbor and friends. Although I had to travel for more than half an hour to deliver the food, it was a joy to see the smiles and the good feedback of appreciation on how they had enjoyed the food! 3. Never before have I trimmed my husband’s hair with a hair trimmer as the barber shops were not allowed to operate. I became the hairdresser. It was a good try and my husband said, “next time, I don’t need to go to the barber anymore, you can do it FOC”. 4. Never before have I had video recording using my mobile phone, to tell Bible Story to the Church’s Sunday School children and also as an interpreter for a Sunday Sermon. Thanks to my husband for doing the recording using the phone. Truly “a joy shared is doubled”. I thank God for my husband who is ever ready and willing to chauffeur me around.
Issue #19 Some reflections during MCO
1. Life is short and feeble. The fatality rate of people infected by Covid-19 is a shocking and worrying figure. A person’s earthly life can be very uncertain and unpredictable. These had prompted me to want to live a more meaningful and fruitful life. While we have breath , we need to remind ourselves to treasure our relationship with our loved ones, relatives and good friends. I’m often consoled by Psalms 31:15. “My times are in your hands”, that all the big and small things in my life are in God’s hands, and His will and His ways are better for me. I pray often for God’s mercy and protection to be upon us. 2. Live a simple life. “To be simple is to be great” has always been my favorite motto. Many people face great challenges and difficulties during the MCO period, especially those who have lost their rice bowl or got their salary reduced. My family members are also being affected in one way or another. I shared with them that when we have little, we learn to live simple. I recalled the first chapter of the History subject I learned during my school days, it was about the basic needs of man, i.e. food, shelter and clothing. I reminded my children that we need to be always thankful and count our blessings as we still have three good meals on the table and a comfortable home as compared to many unfortunate ones. 3. Incline our minds to the words of God Reading and drawing strength from the words of God is the best tool for us at this MCO period. Only God’s words can strengthen our faith, nurture our spiritual growth and render wisdom to deal with challenging situations. God’s words teach us not to rely on our own understanding, but trust and acknowledge His ways for us. 4. To be diligent It is good to set new routines, to do something that can lift up our spirit. We need to take initiatives to find constructive activities when we are confined to the house lest we would pass each day idly and time would be wasted. I managed to put away unwanted items, clear the storeroom, and rearrange the kitchen utensils, so that we can live in a cleaner and healthier environment. 5. Cultivate good mental practice During this MCO period, most family members are confined and are staying under the same roof. It is inevitable for us not to get into conflict with one another due to verbal disagreement, stresses from work, worries , boredom, etc. As such one would be prone to dwell in negative thoughts and emotions. As a music teacher, I often ask my students “Have you been practising on the piano?” “Do you practise your pieces everyday?” “Remember, practice makes perfect”. It is good if we can ask ourselves “what do I practise everyday?” Do I practise anger, complaint, or being worried everyday? Because if we do that, we will become or get to be so good at it that we would find fault with everyone, get mad over petty things or worry about so many things. On the contrary, we should heed the exhortation of Paul in Philippians 4: 8 , “whatever is true, noble, right or praiseworthy – think about such things... and the God of peace will be with you.” Therefore, it is important that we should practise joy , peace, love, kindness, patience and self-control. If we do that everyday, we would become so good at it, that we can actually live out the fruit of the Spirit. u
Last but not least, I would like to end my sharing with my favorite prayer from Psalms 123: 2 “As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hands of her mistress, so my eyes look to the Lord, my God till He shows me His mercy”. May God’s mercy and blessings be upon all of us. Amen.
第19期
初次体验 + 行管令反思 文：周金婵
译：胡敏儿
当初因513事件而实行的宵禁对还是小孩的我并没有太大的影响，所以行管令是 我从未体验过的一个词汇。许多人都觉得行管令给他们的生活带来许多变化。 他们需要在身体、情绪、属灵和理智上重新调整或适应新的生活方式。在行管 令期间，许多WhatsApp 短信里蕴含正面的思想和活动建议，旨在鼓励和激励彼 此。 尽管行管令给我的行动带来许多不便，但是对我而言并不是什么大问题，因为 我一直都比较向往简单的生活。我想在这里分享一些我在行管令期间的活动和 反思。 初次体验 1. 我从来没有一次性购买7至10天分量的食材和日常用品。身为一位母亲，我 需要计划和准备6人份的餐食。所以，我的厨房变成了一个拥有各种各样食 材的小杂货铺。 2.
我从来没有尝试过使用网上搜索的新食谱来烘培和烹饪。与教学相较之下， 烹饪并不是我的强项。但是为了我家人的需求和健康，我鼓起勇气尝试了新 食谱。每当有好的成果时，我感到非常满意并有成就感。
3.
我以前从来没有修剪过我丈夫的头发，但是由于理发店不获允许营业，我成 了他的理发师。这是一个很好的尝试，我丈夫告诉我说：“我以后不再需要去 理发店了，你可以免费帮我剪头发。“
4.
我从未使用手机录制视频，但是这期间，我通过录制视频来为教会的主日学 孩子说圣经故事，也翻译主日的证道。感谢我的丈夫帮忙录制视频。
当移动10公里禁令解除后，我开始与邻居和朋友分享我烹饪的食物。虽然车程 可能需要半个小时以上，但他们脸上的笑容和赞赏让我充满了喜乐！果然“喜悦 因分享而倍增”。感谢神，我的丈夫总是乐意地充当我的司机。
第19期 反思 1.生命短暂而微弱 新冠肺炎感染者的死亡率是一个令人震惊和担忧的数字。生命总是充满着不确定 和不可预测的因素。这些都促使我渴望一种更有意义和富有成果的生命。当我们 还有气息时，应当提醒自己珍惜身边的亲朋好友。诗篇31：15 “我的一生都在祢 的手中”经常安慰我。我生命中所有大大小小的事情都掌握在上帝的手中，而祂的 旨意与道路都高过我的道路。我常常祈求上帝的怜悯和保护与我们同在。 2.简单地生活 “简单是福”一直是我最喜欢的座右铭。在行管令期间，许多人面临着巨大的挑战 和困难，尤其是那些失去工作或遭受减薪的人。我的家人也受到影响，所以我与 他们分享，当我们缺乏时，我们就学会简单地生活。我回忆起以前在历史课里学 习的第一章，内容是关于人的基本需求，即食物、住所和衣服。我提醒孩子们， 我们要常常感恩和数算上帝的恩典，因为与愈多不幸的人相比，我们仍然有温饱 的三餐和一个舒适的家。 3.仰望上帝的话语 阅读上帝的话语并从中支取力量是我们在行管令期间的最佳工具。只有上帝的话 语才能够坚固我们的信心，培养我们灵性的成长并赐给我们应对各种挑战的智慧。 上帝的话教导我们不要倚靠自己的聪明，而要相信和承认祂的作为。 4.要勤奋 设置新的生活规律是有益的，也能振奋我们的心情。当我们被关在家中时，我们 需要主动地寻找建设性的活动，以免我们虚度光阴，每天无所事事。我设法收拾 了一些不需要的物品、清理储藏室并重新整理了厨房用具，好让我的家人可以在 更整洁和健康的环境里生活。 5.培养良好的心态 行管令期间，许多家庭成员都被局限在同一屋檐下。人与人之间的相处常常因为 言语上的分歧、工作压力、忧虑、无聊等情况下而导致不可避免的摩擦 。因此， 人们很容易陷入消极的思想和情绪。作为一名音乐老师，我经常问我的学生：“你 每天有练习钢琴吗？”、“你每天有练习乐谱吗？”、“记住，刻苦练习才能完美”等。 同样的，我们也应该问自己：“我每天都在操练什么呢？” 我是否每天生气、抱怨 或担心？因为如果这样做，我们会变得只擅长于这些方面，以至于注视每个人的 缺点、为非常琐碎的事情生气或者为许多事情烦恼。相反，我们应该听从腓立比 书4:8中保罗的劝告：“凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名 的， 都要思考...... 这样，和平的上帝就会与你同在。” 因此，我们应该操练喜乐、 和平、仁爱、恩慈、忍耐和节制。如果我们每天都这样做，我们就会变得非常擅 长此事，以至于能够活出圣灵的果子。
最后，我想要以我最喜欢的祷告——诗篇123:2来结束我的分享：“看哪，仆人的眼 睛怎样望主人的手，使女的眼睛怎样望主母的手，我们的眼睛也照样望耶和华我 们的神，直到他怜悯我们。”愿上帝的怜悯和祝福常与我们同在。阿门。