文 / 岑祖榮，中華基督教會深愛堂會友
除草是有機耕作的必需步驟。由於有機耕種不容許使用農藥，把田畦中的雜草拔掉，便為經常進行的工夫。雜草，定義是一束束不知名的植物，總是在毫不在意下忽然萌生出來的產物，由於它們的存在是會和我們所裁種的農作物爭取土地的養分，故此被拔出棄掉在肥料堆中便成為唯一的結局。
認識Victor是在有機農田中，他和另一位同胞希望利用閒餘時間在農田中種植一些農作物，在進一步了解下，他背後的不幸故事便逐步浮現，Victor是一個滯留香港的政治難民，難民代表著一群有家歸不得的平民，因著種種原因被家鄉的極權政府所唾棄。這是一個在現代文明社會所不容許卻偏偏在世界各地經常出現的悲劇。停留在港期間，Victor因著難民身份不能工作，但他又不想終日無所事事，便興起在農田中發揮一下他在家鄉所擁有的種植工夫。
不知何故，有一次在農田中看著Victor耕作的身影，想著他的遭遇，就不期然想起經常被我所拔除的雜草，曾經深信的是田畦中的雜草必需清除得一乾二淨，一方面它們並非我在田畦中所刻意裁培之物，在我眼中毫無經濟價值；另一方面它們的存在，只會爭奪泥土中的養份，影響著田畦中所裁種植物的生長，為免利益受損，自然需要把它們從生長之地除去。對我來說，這是天公地道的行為。
直至有一天，農地的導師說出了一番相反的道理。原來上帝所創造的大自然，是一個繽紛豐盛的世界，過渡清除雜草，使田畦變成一個單一作物的環境，反而對生長其間的農作物有很壞的影響。生物圈與我們所處的社會一樣，惟有容許不同種類、特性的共融發展，才能營造出一個欣欣向榮的大自然。同理地一個能夠接納不同種族、理念、階級共存的環境，才配稱為一個和諧美善的社會。
從此我了解到所謂”雜草” 的價值，是被我的無知所抹殺了。除草的工作，亦多了一個新的角度去安排。但疑惑的是，未知Victor與他同胞們的價值，又於何時才能重新被認定？再一次能夠踏足於故鄉的土地上健康快樂地展開他們的新生活。
Weeds Lightup Life
Arthur: Sham Cho Wing (Church of Christ in China Shum Oi Church)
Brief introduction: “People have a misconception about the political asylum seekers in Hong Kong that they are here to compete for our resources and jobs. There is lack of support from the Hong Kong Government; the asylum seekers only receive food supplies every ten days, and the food is non-healthy and non-nutritious. HKCI and a local organic farmland join hands together to provide land for the asylum seekers to carry out their own organic farming. We appeal to churches and their congregations to participate in the work of farming, and to encourage Christians to reflect on their faith base on practical experience. The participation enables Christians to understand the asylum seekers better, also increases their care and awareness of the needs of the asylum seekers. The following is my experience in this project of 2010.”
I used to believe undoubtedly that the weeds in a ploughed field have to be removed completely. On the one hand, these weeds have no economic value because they are not being grown there intentionally. On the other hand, their existence competes for soil nutrients, and affects growth of the crop I planted. To avoid the damage of interests, removing the weeds is only fair and just.
The figure of Victor working in the farmland reminds me of his stranded stay in Hong Kong because of political persecution, and he is unable to return to his home and family. This image has given me a new experience. God has created a colorful and abundant world and nature, making the field into an environment with a single crop instead turns out to be a harmful effect on the growth of other crops.
The biodiversity, biological component of earth systems, is similar to our society, both needs to allow different types and characteristics to exist in the communion in order to create a thriving nature. Likewise, an environment that is worthy to be called harmonious and good is a society that embraces different ethnicity, class, and ideas.