一個偶然的機會和媽媽、姊姊去到台東，造訪現在台灣很夯的景點 --
「天堂路」。大家會給它取這麼好聽的名字，當然是因為那裡風景很漂亮，還有，那是全台灣最後一處沒有電線桿阻礙視線的地方了。
實際站在天堂路的感覺，和在網路上欣賞照片是很不一樣的。放眼向東、南、西、北張望，盡都是綠油油的稻田，四圍環繞著層峰交錯的群山。白雲在山峰之間遊走，藍天盡情的在穹蒼中揮灑。看似沒有盡頭的道路，卻又像是可以通達到深不可測的遠山。我這個城市鄉巴佬置身在其中，彷彿來到了夢幻般的天堂。
天堂真的就像這個樣子嗎？我的內心澎湃不已，不禁想起了「更美的家鄉」這首詩歌。
那一年，爸爸因為跌倒而住進醫院，沒有想到這竟是他人生最後的旅程。幫我們籌辦喪禮的公司，希望我們提供爸爸生前各個階段的照片，和一首背景音樂，他們可以做成一個回憶光碟，好在追思禮拜的當天播放，讓來參加的親友們和我們一起回顧爸爸的生活點滴。
這是我能為爸爸做的最後一件事了，當然要卯足了全力來做。找照片不是問題，但是要找到一首詩歌來做背景音樂卻很難。因為每首詩歌對我來說都很好聽，可是心裡卻有一種少了什麼的感覺。我只好向神禱告，求祂幫助我找到一首既合適又特別的詩歌。很奇妙的是，就在交件期限的前一天，我在網路上找到由廖忠信弟兄作詞作曲的「更美的家鄉」這首詩歌。
聽到這首詩歌，我才發現，原來我的心是被「分離」切割了。雖然理智上知道，爸爸是被主接去了，但是情感上卻是無奈的承受，我們已經離得好遠好遠。
神大大的安慰我和提醒我，祂已經為所有相信耶穌基督救恩的人，在天上預備了一座城，那是一個比地上更好、更美的家鄉。爸爸就和許許多多基督徒一樣，他們雖然死了，也還沒有得著所應許的，但是他們是懷著信心死的，他們會先到那更美的家鄉。而我們這些還活著的基督徒，也因這同樣的信心，帶領我們超越今生一切的悲慟、挫折，得以盼望一同在那更美的家鄉再相聚。
生命中的離與散不是人所能掌控的，我們只能選擇如何去面對的態度。上帝已經賜給我們一個救恩，讓我們不僅在今生每一個困難中都有盼望，更讓今生的死亡不是一個永遠的結束，而是進到永恆的開始，只要我們願意接受和相信。
如果你也正處在傷痛中，希望這首詩歌能帶給你一些安慰，與你一起分享。
當他們走完人生的旅途，當他們跑完當跑的路，
這一切不是如此就結束，他們仍有主同在；
現在我們雖暫時分離，但有一天我們必再相聚，
相聚在神為我們所預備，那更美的家鄉。
他們有更美家鄉，在那天上的家鄉，
沒有痛苦、沒有眼淚，在神永恆的家鄉。
當我們走在人生的旅途，當我們面臨分離時刻，
這一切不是如此就結束，因父神仍然引領；
現在我們雖暫時分離，但有一天我們必再相聚，
相聚在神為我們所預備，那更美的家鄉。
我們有更美家鄉，在那天上的家鄉，
不再漂泊、不再流浪，在神永恆的家鄉。
在神永恆的家鄉….
聖經 希伯來書11:13,16
「這些人都是存著信心死的，並沒有得著所應許的，卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅、是寄居的…。他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的‧所以神被稱為他們的神，並不以為恥，因為他已經給他們預備了一座城。」
(Photo from Papago International Resort, Taitung)
A Better Home
I traveled with mother and sister to Taitung recently. We visited the very hot viewpoint now -- 「Paradise Road」. People called it a nice name, of course, because of the scenery is very beautiful, furthermore there is the last place without poles to block sight in Taiwan.
The actual feeling of standing on Paradise Road, and browsing the pictures on the Internet are very different. Looking East, South, West and North around, green fields are everywhere and mountains’ peaks staggered are surrounding. Clouds walk among pinnacles, and blue sky sprays its color in the air. The road looks like no ending, but seems available to reach far away mountains. The city bumpkin as me soaks in this place; it likes to be a dramatic Paradise.
Is the Paradise really like this place? My heart is surging incessantly. I cannot help to remember the Christian Song 「A Better Home」.
A few years ago, my dad was sent to hospital because falling. We did not expect this was his last journey of his life. The mortician hoped us to provide dad’s pictures which are during every period in his life, as well as a song to be background music. They can make a memory disc to display in funeral ceremony, in order that our family and attendant can reminisce dad together.
This was the last thing I can do for dad, surely I had to do my best. There was no problem to find pictures, but it was very difficult to have a Christian song to be the background music. Every Christian song sounds great for me, but there was something missing in my heart. I prayed to God and asked Him to help me to find a suitable and especial song. It was amazing that I found 「A Better Home」 this song, the lyrics and music written by brothers Andrew Jong-Shin Liau, before the deadline on the web.
Once I heard this song, I just realized that my heart was split by「separate」. Although I have reason to know that dad was taken by God, my feeling was helpless to bear that we were separated far far away.
God greatly comforted me and reminded me, He has prepared a city in heaven for all who believe Jesus Christ salvation, that is a better and beautiful home than on earth. Dad was same as many Christians, though they died and did not get the promise yet, they will be the better home firstly. We, these Christians still living, are with the same believe, this believe can bring us to overcome all sorrow and frustration; besides have hope to meet together at the better home.
Man cannot control the isolation and breakup in life. The only one thing we can do is to choose what attitude to forward. God has given us salvation, it provides us a hope in every difficulty in life, making the death in this life is not an eternal end, but the beginning into eternity, as long as we are pleased to accept and believe.
If you are in pain, hope this song can bring you some comfort. To share with you.
When they have completed life's journey,
When they have finished their course,
That is not the end of everything--
The Father is still with them.
Though now there is a short separation,
One day we will meet again,
Meet again where God has provided
For His children a better home.
They have a better home,
A home that is in heaven,
With no pain, no tears--
God's home unto eternity.
When we are going through life's journey,
When we are separated from each other,
That is not the end of everything--
The Father still guides us every step of the way.
Though now there is a short separation,
One day we will meet again,
Meet again where God has provided
For His children a better home.
We have a better home,
A home that is in heaven,
With no more drifting, no more wandering--
God's home unto eternity.
They have a better home,
A home that is in heaven,
With no pain, no tears--
God's home unto eternity.
God's home unto eternity.
(This song is from Sound in the Wildness, obtained by the author’s consent. Chinese translated into English by Doris Ku)
Hebrews 11:13, 16
「13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.」
