修復和更新
By Jim Mathis
我的工作是修復照片，所以我經常看見有污點、退色或是碎成一片一片的照片。我需要仔細地把破碎的照片一片一片地組合起來，把污漬去除，恢復已經退掉的顏色。
在修復的過程當中，我用了許多工具。有時候，是看得見的工具，例如水、肥皂以及棉花球。有時，我用非常高階複雜的電腦繪圖軟體，例如Adobe Photoshop，把破損不見的地方補上。
工作帶給我在專業和個人方面最大的樂趣，就是能夠展示給客人看修復好的相片，就在他們認為自己珍愛的影像已經永遠消失了的時候，修復後的照片能將他們所珍愛的影像或記憶能恢復。
我們日常的生活中也有類似的例子。例如，有些人的生活被破壞就像是老照片一樣，在不同層面，每個人或多或少都有這樣的經歷。幸運地是，我們有一位手藝高超的工匠耶穌基督，他會檢視我們的生活的每一個部分，看看哪些部分受損、哪些部分退色或是被濫用，甚至是遺失。然後像一個手藝精湛的照片修復師，他可以小心的把這些部分修復得跟新的一樣。
甚至，用專業的軟體，我可以把照片修復得比新的更好，比顧客期待的更好。我小心翼翼地修復那些受到忽略、受損的、或是被破壞的部分，讓他們比新的更好。我喜歡告訴我的顧客說，我不僅僅修復破損的照片，也改善他們，即使原本連他們不知道自己原本有甚麼問題。
用更長遠的眼光來看，神每天都透過祂的兒子耶穌基督在我們身上動工，修復受傷的、破碎的、失去色彩，甚至是失去某部分的生命，祂把人的生命修復完整甚至比原來的更好。
神喜歡恢復和更新的過程。祂在舊約聖經中說：「看哪，我要做一件新事； 如今要發現，你們豈不知道嗎？
我必在曠野開道路， 在沙漠開江河。 」(以賽亞書 43:19) 隨著我們和祂的關係更深，我們會經歷神聖、永恆的轉變。不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為上帝的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。(羅馬書12:2)當我們專注在神和聖經上，我們就能變成全新的人。
就像修復照片需要用棉花棒、噴槍和電腦繪圖軟體，神用愛、饒恕、和好來修復和更新人的生命。
我承認自己並沒有辦法修復每一張破損的照片，神也不會自動修補修補破碎的生命。我的顧客知道自己的照片有問題，所以他們把照片拿來給我，而我盡可能地去修復那些照片。同樣的，神希望我們到祂那裏去，告訴祂我們需要祂的幫助。
這就是為什麼耶穌說：「我又告訴你們，你們祈求，就給你們；尋找，就尋見；叩門，就給你們開門。」 (路加福音 11:9)如同我的客人把自己所要修復的照片帶到我這裡來，我們也要把自己所需要的帶到神面前。
吉姆.馬提斯在堪薩斯州陸路公園市經營一家照相館。他的專長是商業和影劇界人像。他也經營一所攝影學校。他曾是一家咖啡店的經理，也曾是CBMC在堪薩斯州堪薩斯市和密蘇里州堪薩斯市的執行主任。
省思／討論題目
你看過被專家修復過的老照片嗎？它被修復成跟原來的一樣或是更好嗎？對修復的過程你的看法是？ 你同意神修補人生命的過程就像是修復老照片一樣，要用許多不同的方式嗎？分享你的看法。 為什麼你覺得當人遇到麻煩或是痛苦的時候，應該轉向神求神幫助？ 你是否也經歷過文章裡所提到的，被神修復的經驗？或是你現在正在經歷這樣的過程？如果有，請分享你的經驗。
備註：如果你想要知道或是討論跟這個主題相關的經文，請參考：羅馬書6章5-14節；哥林多後書5章17-21節；歌羅西書2章20節；腓立比書4章4-9節；彼得前書1章3-4節
REPAIRING, RESTORING, AND IMPROVING THE BROKEN
By Jim Mathis
In my photo restoration business, I often see photographs that are stained, faded, or even torn into pieces. My job is to carefully put the pieces back together, remove stains and blemishes, and restore faded colors.
In the process I use a variety of tools. Sometimes the tools are obvious, such as soap and water and a cotton swab. Other times I use highly sophisticated computer graphics software, such as Adobe Photoshop, to fill in cracks or even replace pieces that are missing.
One of my great pleasures – professionally and personally – is being able to present to a customer a restored image that they believed was lost, beyond repair, whether of a loved one or a cherished memory.
There is a metaphor here for everyday life, because often it is not just photos that are damaged. People”s lives are damaged as well, sometimes very badly. In one respect or another, this is true for all of us. Fortunately, we have a skilled craftsman named Jesus, who can examine the pieces of our lives, see what is damaged, discover what is faded or has been abused, and even find what is missing in our lives. Then, like a skilled photographic specialist, He can carefully go about putting things back as good as new.
Using specialized software, I can work to make just about any photograph even better than new, invariably better than the client expected. I work meticulously so that which was neglected, damaged, or torn can become superior to the original. I like to tell my clients that not only can I repair damaged photographs, but I also can improve them, even if they didn”t know there was anything wrong.
In a far more profound, eternal way, every day God is doing the same type of work in our lives through His Son, Jesus Christ. He makes it His business to take lives that are damaged, broken, faded, or even have pieces missing, and put them back together, better than before.
God delights in this restoration and renewal process. He declares this in the Old Testament of the Bible. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?…” (Isaiah 43:19). Then, as our relationship with Him grows, we are invited to experience a divine, everlasting transformation process: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). As we focus on God and the Scriptures, we can become new people.
Instead of cotton swabs, airbrushes and computer software, God uses love, forgiveness and reconciliation as His tools for transformation.
Admittedly, I as a photo professional do not go around fixing every photo that I see. And God does not automatically repair broken lives. Each of my clients knows they have a problem photo, which is why they bring it to me to be improved. Once they have reached out to me, I do everything I can to solve their problem. In much the same way, God wants us to come to Him and admit that we are ready for the help that only He can give.
This is why Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened…” (Luke 11:9). Just as my customers bring their needs to me, we must bring ourselves to God.
Jim Mathis is the owner of a photography studio in Overland Park, Kansas, specializing in executive, commercial and theatrical portraits, and operates a school of photography. Jim is the author of High Performance Cameras for Ordinary People, a book on digital photography. He formerly was executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Have you ever had or seen an old or damaged photo that an expert was able to restore to its original quality, or even better than the original? What was your reaction to that process? Do you agree with the analogy between the process of restoring and improving old photos with the spiritual process of transforming lives that have been broken or damaged in various ways through their journey through life? Why or why not? Why do you think that not everyone going through difficulties or dealing with a troubled life turns to God for help? Can you think of a time when God was doing something like that in your life? Perhaps He is making some much-needed repairs and changes in your life right now? If so, what is that process like in your personal experience?
NOTE: If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages: Romans 6:5-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Peter 1:3-4
