Separation and Presence
In the past ten months of church life, I have witnessed many kinds of separations and farewells—some among youth, others among adults.
For the youth, Hong Kong students leave their families and friends to study abroad in Sydney. At the end of the semester, for long summer holidays, or even shorter winter breaks, many of them return to Hong Kong or extend with a brief vacation to spend more time with their loved ones. My separation from them is usually short-lived, and we reunite soon after. Sometimes, they even buy me small gifts, which always bring me joy. Some Hong Kong students choose to return to Hong Kong for work after graduation and are unlikely to come back to Sydney anytime soon. These separations last longer, and we can only reunite if I visit Hong Kong or they return to Sydney. I bid them farewell with small gifts or blessings, praying that God continues to be with them.
For the adults, I’ve seen brothers and sisters shuttle between Hong Kong and Sydney due to the separation from their parents or elders. They travel back and forth to visit or care for aging or ill loved ones. Each return to Sydney is marked by concern for their family back home, along with the sorrow and reluctance that comes with parting. The longest separation, however, occurs when loved ones pass away and return to the embrace of the Lord. Over the past ten months, I have attended at least five or six funeral services, witnessing the bittersweet emotions of brothers and sisters - grieving their loss yet grateful for God’s grace.
Many of these experiences of separation echo my own over the past few years. Four and a half years ago, my mother returned to the Lord's embrace, and we parted temporarily. Four years ago, I migrated to Sydney, creating a geographical separation from my siblings and parents-in-law. Post-pandemic, every summer trip back to Hong Kong to visit family ends with reluctance and a heavy heart as I return to Sydney.
These have all been my experience of farewells. Facing separation has brought me pain, but through it all, God has allowed me to experience His presence and comfort. He is the God who is with me.
God's presence with us is the very message of Christmas.
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
Matthew 1:23
Brothers and sisters, have you ever experienced God’s presence in your life? As Christmas approaches, may we share with others how God has been with us.
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分離。同在
在剛過去十個月的教會生活中，看到多種的分離、離別。有青少年人的，也有成年人的。
青少年的香港留學生跟家人朋友離別，來到雪梨讀書。在學期完結後，不單是在漫長的暑假、甚至較短的寒假，他們很多都會返港，或是加上一個短短的旅遊，為的是多些時間陪伴在港的家人和朋友。而我與他們的分離是短暫的，很快就會再見，再見的時候還可能有一些手信，可以叫我歡喜。另有些香港留學生，在畢業後決定返港尋找工作，他們短期內都不會再返回雪梨。我跟他們分離會較長一點，要待我回香港、或是他再來雪梨才會再見。我會為他送上小禮物、或是祝福，祈求神繼續與他同在。
成年人方面，見到弟兄姊妹因為與父母或長輩分隔兩地的緣故，為了探望、照顧生病或是年老的他們，而要穿梭香港和雪梨。他們每次返回雪梨的時候，都要帶着對父母或長輩的掛心而離開，和面對分離的不捨和傷感。而時間上最長的分離，可能就是弟兄姊妹的親人離世，返到主的懷抱中。在這十個月中，我參加了至少五、六次的安息禮拜，見證着弟兄姊妹因為親人離開而傷心、難過，但卻感恩的矛盾心情。
以上關於分離的經歷，許多也是我過去幾年的經歷。四年半前媽媽返到主的懷抱而跟她暫別，四年前移民雪梨，同哥哥姐姐、和外父外母分隔兩地。疫情後每逢暑假回港探望家人，當回程雪梨時依依不捨，這些都是我離別的經歷。面對分離、離別，我都經歷痛苦。但在過程中，神讓我經歷祂的同在、安慰。祂是與我同在的神。
神與我們同在，這正正就是聖誕節的信息-『必有童女懷孕生子；人要稱他的名為以馬內利。（以馬內利翻出來就是「神與我們同在」。』
馬太福音 1:23
弟兄姊妹，你有經驗過神與你同在嗎？願意我們就在即將來臨的聖誕節，向人分享神怎樣與我們同在。
