聽Eric Clapton是好久前的事，其結他技巧，最為夾band人所津津樂道。隨著年紀，他的曲風愈來愈blue，而他兒子意外身亡的悲劇，使他的音樂添上一份滄桑感。好喜歡這首Tears in Heaven，據說是在悲劇後寫的，其中的問和答，又是希望，又是困惑……以下版本是在日本演唱會的演出。
Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven Will it be the same If I saw you in heaven I must be strong, and carry on Cause I know I don't belong Here in heaven
Would you hold my hand If I saw you in heaven Would you help me stand If I saw you in heaven I'll find my way, through night and day Cause I know I just can't stay Here in heaven
Time can bring you down Time can bend your knee Time can break your heart Have you begging please Begging please
(instrumental)
Beyond the door There's peace I'm sure. And I know there'll be no more... Tears in heaven
Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven Will it be the same If I saw you in heaven I must be strong, and carry on Cause I know I don't belong Here in heaven
1-2 He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?" 3But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter—Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further. 4-6Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching. (Eugene Peterson, Message)
There is something in our texts this morning that resonates with some of the Chinese sayings like: 「本地薑不辣」,「外來的和尚會唸經」,「隔離阿婆飯香」，「外國的月亮比較圓」, etc. Because of this "knowledge" people hold the vew that anything or any one spectacular could not be produced locally.
Then again there are also sayings at the other end that stress exactly the opposite point: 「猛虎不及地頭蟲」,「茶是故鄉濃」 etc. Accordingly folks share the opinion that local is always the better.
Which of the two views is closer to the truth any way?I suppose we would have no problem proving either view valid with experiences and illustration of cases.It seems that what really matters, however, is what we think we see and understand. In fact, it does not have much to do, if not nothing, with geographical location. Indeed it is not a matter of physical distance but a distance of mind and heart.It is not where others are or where they are from, it is really what’s already in our mind, and presumption is its name.
I recall some years ago when we first went to the States for further studies.We came to know some nice people, generous, loving and caring, ready to help. Among those nice people there were a few folks who had some presumptions of us who came from the Orient; and people outside of America and Europe are often stereotyped as “the Third World”. One of these nice folks was our neighbor.
One evening common friends between us invited our family and our neighbor to go over to their house for dinner.We had a great time chatting and eating.At certain point of that wonderful evening, I think it was when we were each enjoying our steak, while slicing her steak our neighbor remarked casually but surely,
“This is quite different from what Joe (my English name) and Serena (my wife’s English name) have been doing for their meal at home.”
“How is it different?” The host asked.Before I really knew what she was getting at, she went on to explain assertively,
“Well, they usually cut the meat into very small pieces, unlike our big portion. Do you know why?” She looked at the hosts seriously and almost immediately offered her answer as assuredly,
“Back home they don’t have refrigerator to keep the left over.To make sure no meat is left or all meat would be consumed, they cook very small portion of meat. That’s why they cut it into small pieces.”
I must confess that I learnt something from her answer, but I am not sure if that really explains Chinese cooking pattern. As far as I know she has not taken any Chinese cooking class, neither has she been keen on Chinese culture. In fact, before we met she did not have a Chinese friend.All she knew about Chinese people was from the characters in TV or motion pictures.But one thing is sure; she considers Chinese people as part of the Third World.More importantly she has a view of what Third World is like: rather primitive, simple… you see? Presumption.
But is presumption the problem of certain part of the world only?Several years ago there is a story shared among the sea of web.I guess many of us have read it or some versions of it already.According to this story, the United Nations sends out a question or a thought for children in different parts of the world to discuss and interact: “PLEASE SHARE YOUR OWN THOUGHT CONCERNING THE ADEQUACY OF FOOD SUPPLY IN OTHER NATIONS.” Now the quiz was sent out, but the result has not been satisfactory because,
Children in Africa do not know “adequacy of food supply”;
Hilarious?But I also wonder if there is not truth in that.I am not saying that all Asian children do not have thought of their own. I am not saying that every American kid is always arrogant and self-centered. I am not saying that all Latin American children are aggressive.I am saying that none of us, young and old, rich or poor, male or female, East or West, can be exempted from presumption, pre-understanding, pre-supposition, even prejudice.
Just because no one is exempted from presumption, as such it is not a problem.I would even argue that without presumption there cannot be any possibility of understanding or communication.For example, without some prior understanding or knowledge of languages, both Chinese and English (I am referring to those who are now understanding me with the help of simultaneous interpretation), I am just producing sound. The morning newspapers are random clusters of weird signs without any meaning. Without some pre-understanding we could hardly get this worship go as it should.
The problem is not presumption or pre-understanding, the problem is that we make our pre-understanding the only and final knowledge, refusing to know more, refusing to connect to others, refusing to admit any space for possibility, growth and change. Life is but an endless mathematical deduction.Every result is nicely predicted and known because of our presumption and our knowledge.Anything, any one outside of our calculation or formulation would be unreasonable, absurd and therefore unacceptable.
“He’s just a carpenter-Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid.We know his brothers James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters.Who does he think he is?” (6:3)
“He is good and marvelous.Yes indeed, no doubt about that.But a carpenter’s son can and will only be another carpenter.We just know that, no matter what he does and speaks.We just know and will know.”People in Nazareth said assertively. People in Nazareth lived safely on their logic and calculation. But a life in lack of faith does not allow anything to happen, not even miracle.
“Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there-he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all.He couldn’t get over their stubbornness.” (6:4~6)
