Locked-in 闭锁症

Jean-Dominique Bauby’s memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, describes his life after a massive stroke left him with a condition called “Locked-In Syndrome.” Although he was almost completely paralyzed, Bauby was able to write his book by blinking his left eyelid. An aide would recite a coded alphabet, until Bauby blinked to choose the letter of a word he was dictating. The book required about 200,000 blinks to write. Bauby used the only physical ability left him to communicate with others.

In 2 Timothy we read of Paul experiencing a different kind of “locked-in syndrome.” Under house arrest, the apostle learned that his execution might be imminent. With this in view, he told Timothy: “I suffer trouble . . . even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained” (2 Tim. 2:9). In spite of his isolation, Paul welcomed visitors, wrote letters of encouragement, and rejoiced at the spread of God’s Word.

For some of us, circumstances may have isolated us from others. Lying in a hospital bed, serving time in a prison, or being a shut-in can make us feel that we are experiencing our own “locked-in syndrome.” If this is true for you, why not prayerfully reflect on some ways you can still reach out to others. — Dennis Fisher

Give me to serve in humble sphere,
I ask not aught beside!Content to fill a little place,
If God be glorified. —Anon.

No deed is too small when done for Christ.

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

读经: 提摩太后书2章1-10节
「我为这福音受苦难，甚至被捆绑……然而，上帝的道却不被捆绑。」（提摩太后书2章9节）

法国作家尚．多明尼克．鲍比（Jean-Dominique Bauby）在他的回忆录《潜水钟与蝴蝶》中，描述他在经历一次严重中风后所遗留的症状，称之为「闭锁症」。他在几近全身麻痹的状况下，仍靠眨左眼来写 书。他请一位助理为他诵读转成密码的字母，让鲍比以眨眼睛的方式选择字母，组成他所要的单字。为完成这本书，他共计眨眼20万次。鲍比运用全身上下仅存的 能力，来与他人沟通。

在提摩太后书，我们读到保罗也经历了一种不同的「闭锁症」。在被软禁期间，他意识到自己受刑的日子可能已迫在眉梢，于是便告诉提摩太：「我为这福音受苦 难，甚至被捆绑，像犯人一样；然而，上帝的道却不被捆绑」（提摩太后书2章9节）。他虽被孤立，却热切欢迎来访之人，并写信带给人鼓舞，且为上帝的道能传 扬开来而欢喜雀跃。

我们当中有些人，可能正处在与人隔绝的景况中，如卧病在床、在狱中服刑，或无法外出。这些景况都可能让我们感到自己正遭遇「闭锁症」。如果这正是发生在你身上的事，何不带着祷告的心，找出能让你去接触他人的方式。HDF

让我谦卑事奉主，其他一切无所求！默默无闻亦满足，唯主荣耀世间留。Anon.

为基督所做之事，没有一件是小事。