无动于衷？（马太福音 24:12）

主日上午，走进地铁车厢准备到教会，身边一起走进车厢的还有三位白发苍苍的乐龄人士。地铁里人蛮多的，三位长辈左看右看，确实没有空位能给他们坐下。他们有点摇晃地站着，我也左看右看，发现大部分的人果然都在看手机或闭目养神；有的则是双眼望着眼前的三位长辈，却无动于衷。

“多管闲事”的我有点按耐不住了，就在一排座位上盯上一个年轻人。她手里拿着手机，眼睛望着站在她面前的三位白发人却依旧坐着，继续摇着脚，开心的讲着电话… 我伸出手在她面前晃了晃，然后指着三位长辈，她站起来，让位了！但只有一个空位。其他的人依然无动于衷。既然这闲事都管上了，于是我提高声量问：“请问有没有人可以让位啊？这里有老人家！”最后，另外两位客工站起来了。三位长辈缓缓地坐下来，他们同时对我说了声“谢谢！”那一刻，我竟然感到有一点点儿莫名的难过…

虽然说在地铁及巴士上让位是新加坡人一个美好的文化，这也是很多外国朋友所公认和欣赏的。但坦白说，这不应当只是文化，这应当是一种美德，是文化和修养结合所产生的美德及好习惯！

后来我也明白了，我之所以难过是因为坐着的人虽然眼睛“看见”白发苍苍的三位长辈，他们却“无动于衷”；他们其实知道应该怎么作，也可以马上反应，但是他们却“无动于衷”；虽然他们看见有年轻的女生站起来让位，他们其实也该醒觉，也可以跟着站起来让位给长辈，但是他们仍然“无动于衷”。可怕的是，“无动于衷”很多时候是“冷淡无情”的前奏！

弟兄姐妹，求主提醒我们，能敏锐地看见并回应身边有需要的人；求主督促我们，不要睁着眼睛却看不见（或假装看不见）摆在眼前可以作的事、应该作的事；求主怜悯我们，不要让我们的心随着冷淡的世界也变得冷淡了。

以马内利！

主的使女，
秀娟

Indifferent？（Matthew 24:12）

On a Sunday morning, I boarded a train to make my way to church; along with me were three other silver-haired elderly. It was a crowded train and the three elders looked around to confirm that there was no seat available. Their stance was a little wobbly, so I helped to look around too. I observed that most passengers were engrossed with their mobile phones or were resting; while some could see the elders before them but were indifferent.

“Nosy” me could not hold it in any longer, I set my eyes on a young lady. She was on a phone call while looking at the elders before her, yet she continued to shake her legs and talk on. I stretched my hand out, waved it before her and pointed to the elders. She stood and gave her seat up. But that was just one seat, the others remained indifferent. Since I have meddled in this matter, I raised my voice to ask, “is there anyone who can give up their seats? There are elderly here!” Finally, two foreign workers stood up. The three elders sat down slowly; they turned towards me, smiled and thanked me. That moment, I felt a sense of sadness beyond description unexpectedly,

Although giving up seats on public transportation is a beautiful culture among Singaporeans, it is also something recognised worldwide. But honestly, this should not only be just a culture, but it should also be a virtue and habit that derives from the combination of culture and cultivation!

It was sometime later that I realised that my sadness came from the people who “saw” the 3 elderly but were “indifferent”; they do know what they should do and could have responded immediately, yet they were “indifferent”. Even though they saw the young lady has given up her seat, they should be aware that they can give up their seats to the rest of the elderly. But they remained “indifferent”. The frightening thing is that “indifference” tends to be the prelude to “cold-heartedness”!

Dear brothers and sisters, may God remind us to always look out and to respond to those in need; may Christ urge us not to keep our eyes open but yet can’t see (or pretend not to see) what needs to be done or could be done before us; may Lord have mercy upon us, not to allow our hearts to grow cold in this indifferent world.

His Servant Maid,
Lena
(Translated by Eunice Chang)