Vertigo (眩暈)

#2017-1214

Vertigo*

Like thieves Vertigo broke into my head
And took control of my freedom to move
For a time I was forced to stay in bed
Seeing nothing I could do to imporve

The same Monster had seized me years before
Those horrible moments I could recall
If I'd learned to thrust him out of the door
I wouldn't move with hands against the wall

Then Medicine helped me to some degree
I was eager to get out for a walk
The outside world provides so much to see
And my heart and my head need a good talk

Oh, how can I always keep my balance?
For Goodness sake, why not pray for guidance?

-- by Mookoo Liang

Notes: 

This short poem was composed on the 5th day after the writer got the symptoms of vertigo on Saturday, December 9, 2017.

According to English Wikipedia, vertigo is a medical condition where a person feels as if they or the objects around them are moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties walking. It is typically worsened when the head is moved. Vertigo is the most common type of dizziness.

暈眩後第三天： I Took a Walk Near My House

#2017-1212

暈眩，像喝醉了似的，讓我的步履不穩，東搖西晃，前傾後倒，我得「有意識地」控制身子，用雙手撐著、按著、或抓著周遭的東西；在靠近牆壁的地方，甚至用整個膀臂「貼著」牆，好讓身體往前移動，一小步、一小步，小心翼翼地，就怕跌跤...........

唉！原本極為容易的動作，都因為頭暈，變得困難重重。更不用說要開車上教堂，或徒步上山運動之類的，那怎麼可能呢？-------症狀嚴重時，真的是「天旋地轉／天翻地覆」，連稍微轉頭，都不敢大意！

大約七年前吧，已有過一次類似的經驗：從「平躺」於床上要「起身」坐起來，都有困難，連坐也坐不穩，想要站立或行走，那就更加困難了。

上星期六，子夜時分，我再一次感受到「暈眩症」的可怕。於是，星期天的「聖誕布置音樂崇拜」(Hanging of the Greens) 我不得不缺席了。我吃藥，我祈禱。後來從電話和 LINE (來音) 的留言中得知，教會裡有許多朋友也為我代禱 ----- 求主幫助，盼能早日康復。感謝主！昨天星期一，我已能慢慢地走出家門，在家附近的「公園」(public space) 散步；還能用隨身的 iPhone 手機，拍下幾張（自認為）很美、很有趣的照片！

St. James' Preschool Christmas Party, 2017

#2017-1209

I was very happy to be invited to the Christmas Party held (at Feng-Le Park, Taichung) by St. James' Preschool this evening. Jean, who was also invited, went together with me. We enjoyed the wonderful performances presented by the preschool kids and their teachers. We really had a good time tonight. Thanks and praises to the Lord!

Following is the Gospel story (from Luke 2:8-14) that I read on the stage, just before Rev. Lily Chang told the Good News about Christmas (and Christ!) to all the people who participated in this important annual event:

天使報喜信給牧羊的人 -- 載在《路加福音》二章 8-14 節

在伯利恆之野地裡有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群。有主的使者站在他們旁邊，主的榮光四面照著他們，牧羊的人就甚懼怕。那天使對他們說：「不要懼怕，我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的。因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了。」忽然有一大隊天兵，同那天使讚美神說：「在至高之處榮耀歸於神！在地上平安歸於他所喜悅的人！」

Again, thanks be to God! -- And I must also say Thank You to Mr. Guanhong Lai (賴冠宏弟兄), who shared (on Facebook) the photos below:

A Few Things I'd Like to Jot Down on the First Sunday of Advent

#2017-1203

It's December 3rd today. According to our church calendar, it's the beginning of the new church year.

Shall I make a new church-year resolution at this moment? (It's about 10:00 p.m. now.)

Yes, I'd like to make one ...

But before making any "new [church] year's resolution," I should think carefully -- I should not make any decision that is too awkward, or obviously too hard for me to carry out. If I cannot put it into practice, what does it really mean to me? It means nothing!

So, before thinking forward, let me think back. Let me firstly reflect on what had happened to me in this past year -- or in these past months. For example, just in the last part of November I had been to some interesting places (see photos below) and met some very good friends of mine (e.g. Dongdong Fang, Hewan Su, etc.).

= = = Part One = = =

The following photos were taken at
Coffee Fish (咖啡魚), in Wufeng
on November 24, 2017

= = = Part Two = = =

The following photos were taken at
KIKUZONO (菊園婚宴會館), 

in Dali District, Taichung City
on November 25, 2017

= = = Part Three = = =

The following photos were taken at
Walnut's Castle (核果美食工坊), 

in West District, Taichung City
on November 30, 2017