Teaching with Passion

I told the wind
That I have never been
On top of the highest mountain,
To feel the greatest sense of accomplishment.

Wind invited me to close my eyes
And it lifted me into the sky.
I remembered that I felt light
And I felt free.

It was a good feeling-
I felt my weariness fleeing.
I was just floating up
Towards the mountain top.

I was expecting a wondrous view
Of vegetation rich and green.
I was expecting Nature
To present itself as a lovely picture.

But when I finally got there,
My heart sank as I stared-
Beyond the whiteness of the snow,
There was little Nature could boast of or show.

Wind caressed me.
He told me I should try to feel and see,
Beyond the snow and coldness,
So that I could appreciate Nature’s true loveliness.

I returned to the classroom and my students,
Where at times teaching has lost its charm and radiance.
Wind went past the window and whispered
‘Remember that once you were an enthusiastic Teacher.’

And he asked me to close my eyes,
Suddenly I saw unfolding pictures in the eyes of my mind.
I saw a teacher passionate about his teaching,
And his students were most excited about learning.

I saw myself taking care of self
So that I could give of my best.
I saw how teaching with my heart, I could inspire
My students to learn beyond what was required.

I felt their love for the subject and for me
I thanked Wind for reminding me to be,
A special teacher doing his part,
And not lose the passion and the heart.

I should continue to make my subject come alive,
And aim to nurture keen learners with bright eyes,
Students who not only come to love the subject I teach
But have school experiences to treasure and to keep.

Teachers’ Day is a special day
when every literate person would choose different ways
to remember teachers who have touched their lives;
to thank these who have given them wings to fly.

Wings for flying to scale the Ladder of Literacy,
Wings to fly out of the Captivity of Poverty,
Giving each the ability to feed the mind with Fruits of Wisdom
And become men and women who can truly enjoy Freedom.

Freedom from lack of self-confidence,
Liberating the mind from the self deception
that makes one doubt one’s own talent, and the ability
to have control over one’s achievement and destiny.

主，求你医治我

亲爱的天父，

我好累，求你带走我的疲惫。
身体里的问题所带给我的麻烦，也求你把它除去。
当我知道靠自己时只能给自己添加压力时，
我所能倚靠的唯有你。

生活到底是什么？来自世界的教导，竟然和你的教导互相抵触。
作为一个活在这世界，活在这躯体的基督徒，
你可知我们的挣扎？
什么才是人的谎言，人自己添加的意思，还有符合这世界的真正真理？

每天周而复始的教导、批改，快把我压得喘不过气。
什么时候才有时间看完一本书，唱完一首歌，发呆一整天，
思考人生的问题，和朋友重新建立友谊？

哦，亲爱的天父，请把多点时间赐给我吧！

越南之梦

昨天晚上做了一个令我情感上非常累的梦。我从来没想到我会梦见他，不过他一掠过我的梦境，我又能深刻感受到他那充满怜悯之爱的心。在梦中，我竟然深深地爱着他，而他也那么爱我，还要求我留下来一个月，之后才由我自己做出选择。他就好像童话里的人物，梦境里的人物，因为现实中的我们是不可能在一起的，因为我们有着语言上的障碍。不过我想我爱的不是他，而是整个国家，整个民族，以及所有我在那旅途中遇到的人。

这一年的时间就这样静悄悄地从我的手中流逝，而我对越南的思念也似乎被埋在记忆的深处。不过每当午夜梦回，我的心还是那么悸动，无法平静下来。我真想离开这个快令我窒息的地方，这个不知什么是“人情”的地方，到那令我魂萦梦牵的地方。那里的人们知道什么是快乐，虽然他们所拥有的比我们还少。亲爱的朋友们，你们还好吗？