心有千千結

                  很不容易才天亮，睡得不好，腦中想著很多的事，不能入睡，抑或是睡不著就不斷的想起許多的事，我也攪不清了！

                   想起小伊的故事( Raymond Li 的分享)，情結？情意結？難道這就是情意結，一些一直影響著我們生命而不自知的東西，左右著我們對生活中的每一個決定，每一個細節，毎一個對發生在我們生命中的事的反應，那份執著的背後，就是那情意結的驅使？對心理學一竅不通的我，也啟發了點點興趣！

                  也許本是雞毛蒜皮不值一題的小事，小魔鬼也能利用那似是而非的道理，混和著那隨伴著我們一起長大的情意結，小事變大，大事變得更大，以至引發用暴力去傷害、殘殺他人，甚至毀滅自己，為了令他人內疚一生？為了洩一口氣？不值呀！

                  聽者心酸，聞者落淚，神啊！你在那裡？你能俺面不看嗎？

                  我們每個人背後也有一個個的故事，惰意結？？何止一個，是一個接著一個，我們無法去改寫過去了的故事，然而如何將這個故事延續下去，就決定在於選擇權仍在我們手裡的時候，如何去決擇取捨。事實上，很多時我們處事的態度是可以一笑置之的，用不着那麼執著緊張！退一步真的可以海闊天空呀！

                解鈴還需繫鈴人，縱使主耶穌你曾應許，凡勞苦擔重擔的可以到你那裡來，你就使他們享安息，我們也得願意來到主的跟前，讓主耶穌將我們心中的千千結一個一個的解開，化為蝴蝶結那樣輕盈飄逸，心意結那樣美麗有意思！他明白我們的處境，他知道我們難受，就讓我們快要踏入新的一年的時候，彼此勉勵提醍，我們生命餘下的故事由主耶穌去寫，主耶穌不單止能修補我們心靈的傷痛，更能賜予我們一個新的開始，因為舊事已過，一切都變成新的了！

                  但願新的一年，隨伴我們餘下生命的都是一個個充滿愛心的心意結，美麗，飄逸！每天都是輕輕鬆鬆，平安喜樂的渡過！

獻上無限的祝福！

若詩

小伊的情結 Icarus’ Complex

從檀香山乘飛機回溫哥華需要差不多五個小時。航機在夜幕低垂下跨越太平洋, 初秋的倦陽還未甦醒, 人已經抵達YVR 機場。

在歸途中看膩了小說, 偶然放眼窗外, 仰望無際的穹蒼, 始覺察到漆黑的夜空原來點綴著數不盡的晶瑩星宿, 以不同的光度作不規則的閃爍。俯望下面是連綿雲海, 在月華映照下散透出暈暈銀光, 令我這個鬧市凡夫看呆了眼。

根據機艙電視瑩光幕上顯示的航程資料, 飛機正在 35,000呎高空以每小時490 哩的時速飛行, 而機艙外面的氣溫是華氏 -50度 (攝氏 -45.5 度)。

一個人居然可以在這種高速和惡劣的氣溫下在高空安然坐賞夜色, 想起來真是難以置信。 這是科學的成就。 自古以來人類不斷在憧憬要衝上雲霄, 要飛得比班頭雁 (bar-headed goose) 還高, 比信天翁 (albatross) 還遠, 比游隼 (peregrine falcon)更快。 中外的神話都有人飛上天的故事。

希臘傳說中有一位出色的雅典工匠代達羅斯 (Daedalus), 因為開罪了米諾斯王 (King Minos), 連累兒子小伊 (伊卡洛斯 Icarus) 一同被軟禁在克里特島 (Crete) 的迷宮內。 小伊年少氣盛, 血氣方剛, 不過為了自身和父親的安全, 雖然無辜受罰, 仍要將一腔怒火抑壓強忍, 不能在監視他們的人面前披露半點。後來伊父暗暗用臘和羽毛做了兩雙翅膀, 用來和兒子逃出生天。他把兒子帶到迷宮的最高點, 臨跳下前千叮萬囑, 叫兒子緊隨他飛行的方向, 切不可飛近太陽。

小伊稍作猶疑, 就跟著父親振翅凌空跳下。 孔武有力的他, 只須拍動三數下翅膀, 人已經向前滑翔上升, 轉瞬間將囚禁他多年的迷宮拋得老遠。小伊驚喜交集, 身體內的腎上腺素劇增, 飽和了每一個細胞。 眼前碧海藍天, 清風撲面, 自由在握, 身體心靈不再受任何禁制, 多年積壓著的冤屈恨怨, 都一併爆發了出來, 轉化成為一股一發不可收拾的蠻橫力勁。小伊仰天長嘯, 猛力拍動雙翼往上衝, 將父親的忠告完全置之腦後, 直至翅膀上的臘因太陽的熱力開始溶化才驚覺, 可惜為時已晚, 猝然從高空墮入海中, 落得個粉身碎骨。

人手製做的羽翼可以飛上天當然是古遠的神話, 不過小伊的心態我們倒可以領會。 那一股錯綜複雜, 介乎自覺與不自覺之間, 由受創傷的記憶或有衝突性的知覺醞釀而成的理念, 分析心理學稱之為「情結」(Complex) 。兩位心理學宗師弗洛伊德 (Sigmund Freud) 和榮格 (Carl Jung) 對情結的見解並不一致, 不過我較為接受榮格的解釋。由於人類的內心世界 (精神, psyche) 架構複雜微妙, 心理上醞釀出情結並非是一種不尋常的情況。 情結可能會縈繞著一個人的思維, 令人感到心煩意燥; 情結每每又會在不知不覺之間 轉化成為一股力量, 驅策著一個人的行徑, 意願, 夢境甚至幻想, 所以負面的情結會為人帶來痛苦及危機。 情結有多種的類別, 如果大家對這方面有興趣, 可以翻查以下列出的參考資料。

寫到這裡, 我就想起聖保羅在羅馬書第七章提到那操縱人心的「罪的律」(羅7：23)。他提到自已的掙扎〝因為我所作的, 我自已不明白, 我所願意的, 我並不作, 我所恨惡的, 我倒去作…(羅7：14) 〞, 與及良知和情欲的交戰 (羅 7：18 – 24) 。 因為保羅以第一身, 現在式寫這一段書信, 有些聖經學家以衛道觀點出來為保羅的人格作辯證。 我只覺得保羅這三言兩語, 已經顯示出他對人性有深入的了解; 我特別欣賞他的「真」和「懇」, 覺得很值得我們去學效。

其實無論是善與惡的抗衡, 或是自覺與不自覺的掙扎, 我們的內心時刻都處於一個不能靜止的狀態。耶穌基督說：〝凡勞苦擔重擔的人, 可以到我這裡來, 我就使你們得安息 (…I will give you rest 太11：28 ) 〞 。 耶穌基督跟著解釋說：〝我心裡柔和謙卑, 你們當負我的軛 (yoke), 學我的樣式, 這樣, 你們的心裡就必得享安息 (…you will find rest for your souls 太 11：29), 因為我的軛是容易的, 我的擔子是輕省的 (太11:30)〞。

軛是套在牲口頸肩上的曲木, 讓牠可以拉動擔子, 亦有將兩隻牲口用一個軛並肩套在一起的。軛在神學上有委身, 服從, 負重擔, 甚至結連 (哥後6:14) 等意義。而希伯來語〝負某人的軛〞(take someone’s yoke on) 是含有去跟隨某人做門徒的意思。馬太福音記載耶穌多番斥責法利賽入假冒為善, 言行不一, 有神學家認耶穌這幾句話 (太11：28 – 30) 一方面是勸導眾人學祂柔和謙卑, 好讓心靈得到安歇；但絃外之音, 耶穌是要眾人提防法利賽人, 因為〝他們把難擔的重擔, 捆起來擱在人的肩上, 但自已一個指頭也不肯動 (太23：4) 。

原來學負耶穌基督的軛是可以令煩擾的心境寧靜下來, 可以駕馭, 甚至紓解, 那複雜的情結。 耶穌沒有應許只要我們將所有的爛攤子擺在祂的跟前, 祂就會為我們一一解決。當然祂可以, 那就要看是否合乎祂的旨意。其實耶穌當日己經邀請我們去作祂的門徒, 去委身, 去服從, 與祂並肩背負擔子。路還得要走, 不過再不是孤身上路, 有祂扶上一把, 就是更難受的困擾我們亦有膽去面對。負耶穌基督的軛, 我們就可以從苦痛中去領略出喜樂, 從軟弱中去重振堅強; 不但可以擺脫情結的驅策, 反而可以將那股驅策我們的力量轉化過來為主作工。

祝各位聖誕快樂, 主恩常偕。
Raymond Li, 04/12/2012


REFERENCES (參考資料)

• Bibleseo

• Bible Search

• Parable of Yoke, CULTWATCH

• Articledashboard.com

• Richard Reeves’ pockets

• Jungian Analysis New York Complex

• Analyticalpsychology.wordpress.com (types of psychological complexes)

• Fonda’s Jung Notes

• Wikipedia

• Analytical Psychology

• 維基百科

The "NorthRidg​e is for Liars" campaign

How do you feel about being part of a church that is full of liars and hypocrites?Would you feel awfully uncomfortable being lied to left, right, and centre constantly? Came across this of late. Wonder what you think?

The "NorthRidge is for Liars" campaign Southeast Michigan Church Stirs Controversy with Self-Incriminating Ad CampaignCampaign raises question: Can a church open to imperfect people attract members?


NorthRidge Church is raising questions and eyebrows throughout southeast Michigan with an outdoor advertising campaign launched last month. The campaign, titled "NorthRidge is For Liars," features billboards and transit ads that make bold statements about the openness of the church to people who aren't perfect. The ads direct people to beliefbeyond.com where visitors can get the story behind the controversial statements and the church.

"We've heard from people who've said they couldn't be part of a church that is full of liars, losers and hypocrites," said NorthRidge Senior Pastor Brad Powell, referring to the statements made in the series of three ads: NorthRidge is for Liars, NorthRidge is for Losers, and NorthRidge is for Hypocrites.

Powell and members of the NorthRidge staff have been responding to the flood of calls and emails, saying this is just the kind of response they expected, even hoped for from the irreverent campaign.

"If people tell me they're put off or embarrassed, the first question I ask them is, 'why?' The fact that a church is open to flawed individuals is an attractive truth. It's a truth that allows ALL of us to be part of a church—not because we're perfect or 'better-than-thou'—but simply because we want to follow Christ," explained Powell.

Powell sent an email to all NorthRidge members prior to the launch of the campaign to prepare them for the potential challenges they'd face from friends and colleagues who see the ads.

"We're going to be blitzing our area with a new campaign to get people thinking in new ways about church in general and NorthRidge in particular," the email explained. "We're doing it by communicating the truth about who NorthRidge Church is really for: liars, hypocrites and losers. The church is supposed to be a place where all can come and find forgiveness, acceptance, and hope in Christ."

While some have found it difficult to explain, many members have contacted Powell to say the campaign has given them a starting point for discussions about the church."I saw this billboard today and was touched that we would be this welcoming," wrote one member. "I had a coworker with me, and I had the honor of explaining the sign. [I said] that we are all flawed, and God doesn't expect you to get your act together before we come to Him. He will take you just as you are." But for those who are still uncomfortable with the campaign, Powell has a challenge."I'd challenge them to rethink what they're looking for in a church," concludes Powell. "NorthRidge is for normal, flawed, broken people. It's a place, unlike most think of church, where we don't pretend to be something we're not, where we don't judge other people for who they are by nature. It's a place where we are all on the same level as we seek to discover and get to know God and His power to use and transform our failures for His glory.

"While this is the first major marketing campaign for the church, the approach is not new for NorthRidge or for Powell, who is also the author of Change Your Church for Good."We've always presented ourselves in somewhat irreverent ways," explains Powell. "In fact, my book draws on the NorthRidge congregation's experience of shaking up a stagnant body of believers and restoring life and joy to a church that was dying. You don't do that by playing it safe.

"The "NorthRidge is for Liars" campaign will run on billboards, buses, mall displays and online through early November in the Plymouth, Northville, Ann Arbor, Saline, Brighton and Howell areas. More information about the campaign is available at beliefbeyond.com.

NorthRidge Church was founded in 1921 and is a Christian community dedicated to meeting the needs of people where they are in life. Through its congregations in Plymouth/Northville, Ann Arbor/Saline and Brighton/Howell, the church seeks to be a center for discovering, developing in and experiencing Christ.

More information at northridgechurch.com.SOURCE NorthRidge Church

I’d like to hear your feedbacks!
Irene
P.S. Incidentally, don’t bother going into www.beliefbeyond.com, it’s no longer available. The campaign was held a couple of years back by the way.