I don't like the idea of chain letter because it is a waste of resources. In particular, they are noises in the Internet, jamming those authentic stress messages. Therefore, I am cautious in treating forwarded messages/emails, in particular those asking me to forward them to my friends. In many cases, I received them because my friends simply pressed the forward button without thinking. As a responsible user of the Internet, I would try to spend some time to verify the information before I forward them. In many cases, I ended up not pressing the forward button.
Today, before I sat down to write this blog, I received an email asking me to help a certain Mr. Wong Pui Miu (王培淼), a Catholic who received a Bachelor of Education degree from CUHK and was supposed to be a primary school teacher. However, because of some medical blunders at birth and cerebral palsy (suggesting that he is suffering from some physical disfigurement), no headmaster is willing to hire him etc. As usual, I was skeptical and did a little research on the Internet. This time, my skepticism was proved wrong.
Mr. Wong left a Lunar New Year greeting message in Guest Book of the homepage of Tsuen Wan Catholic Primary School while he was still looking for a teaching post half a year after graduation. The next thing I could find is an entry in the HKEdcity forum 歧視不存在，世界更可愛！ in 2005, expressing his despair after six years of struggle and mentioned of suicide. 14 people responded and poured in words of consolation and encouragement. After this, I found his name, if he has been using his real name, in signature campaigns and comments to news items of current social, educational and political issues. He supported Cardinal Zen's position against the Patriotic Church in mainland China etc. So, Mr Wong is real and is struggling to make ends meet.
Life has been difficult for a disfigured university graduate in Hong Kong! Being a Catholic does not seem to relieve much of the hardship he has to endure. Modern society provides convenient and comfortable life. But time is in short supply. People focus on the first impression which takes less than 10 seconds to establish. Once it is cast, you are done. Modern society is highly competitive. Disfigured people are in great disadvantage because they look unhealthy. Their packaging is not marketable.
Jesus did not start with an impressive packaging. He was only a carpenter's son from Galilee. Luckily, Jesus was able to work miracles and exorcise demons. Moreover, he revealed his glory to his core apostles in Transfiguration to boost their faith. However, he was crucified by the Romans. Therefore, Christianity did not start with an impressive packaging. Only through God's intervention in time does Christianity prove its worth. However, time is in short supply in interpersonal interactions in the modern society. How Christians reveal the face of the transfigured Jesus within 10 seconds is a real challenge to us all. It is truly an impossible mission. But for God, nothing is impossible. The transfigured face of Jesus is a promise which God will honour us all at the end of the world. Then, our disfigured faces, including Mr. Wong's will be transformed into their perfection. Meanwhile, we continue to live with a disfigured human face with faith in God who always beats the powerful with the lowly and weak to prove that He is our God. Our faith is fueled by the stories of Gideon leading 300 men to defeat Midianites; David defeating Goliath etc. When God is with us, what powers on earth can triumph over us?
Dear Lord, shine forth your glory through your people. Amen.
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