The winter sunshine in a mining area knows the way of harmony best, without exaggerated heat, also without stingy warmth. The women in the mining area sit in groups of threes and fours in the sun, knitting, chatting, and playing with their own dogs or the dogs next door. They are lethargic, doing little, as if exposing the inactivity of women in a mining area. But in their hearts, worry lingers all day long, even a sense of desperation. Because at the bottom of the mine shaft, 800 meters down, are their husbands. The husband -- her sweetheart, the father of the children, the breadwinner of the family -- is gambling with his life every day.
Underground, the sense of security wanes day by day, because the mining area has entered the old age. The underground facilities are like a sick old man who may die suddenly. Workers who work in the mine have repeatedly complained to their leaders about the problems and have sent letters to the municipality. But all their efforts are to no avail. The leaders are still pocketing piles and piles of money, and the matter of buying new equipment and repairing the machinery is mentioned by no one. The safety, lives, and rights of the workers are almost negligible in this failing mine.
Everything is depressive, and the voice of protest is too weak. The only thing we can hear is the workers' complaints: "The wages are too low, and the work is too laborious." These words always begin with passion, then end with a sigh.
Then there are the women' endless prayers at night, because of the unending worry in their hearts. On the west side of the mining area, there is a small church where women usually pray at night, and some of them cry or shout when they pray. These women can only bow their heads and whisper prayers for their husbands, for the situations their husbands are in. Originally, they did not believe in God, and they just want to find some comfort for their worried hearts. After years of being emotionally entangled with faith, God silently planted the seeds of hope and comfort in these women's hearts. Now they have the power of confidence due to their faith in God.
Perhaps God has listened carefully to the hardships of the workers and the prayers of the women, but he chooses to answer them with silence. The mining area is also a land of silence. From their red-blooded youth to their greying twilight, the workers who have accompanied the mine for decades have learned to tolerate everything with silence. The strenuous work has made them look haggard and old; the dust and underground chill have left many workers suffering from pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and arthritis. Some old men who had been working in the mines for 30 years went back to their hometowns with only decrepit bodies and meager salaries.
In the old and broken houses in the mining community, there is a group of old people. Mining has already deprived them of their right to live happy lives and their health. But, they maintain even temperaments and do not care about the love and hatred within the mining community. In their old age, they choose to spend the rest of their lives there. They don’t fill their lives with feasting and revelry, and they don’t live extravagantly. It is the solitude of the community that has tempered their emotions. No hate, and no sorrow. They just enjoy the laziness and leisure of old age.
The church still exists, and there are still preachers explaining the Bible. The old men and their wives who remain in the mining community still go to pray. Once in the dangerous mine, with their lives hanging by a thread, the miners embraced the power of faith, and beg for protection and blessing. Today, in the land which is safe and peaceful, there is no fear of death anymore, but these people still go to church.
In these 30 years of struggling with faith, they have established a deep friendship with God. They are like old friends now, and cannot be separated. Perhaps the loving call of faith has already been heard by some people among the faithful long ago. To see the true meaning of faith, you need to carefully observe the sincere and urgent calling which has lasted for many years.
My father has worked in this mine for more than thirty years. He devoted all his youth and passion for the cause of coal mining. Now he has retired to his hometown. In his hometown, my father is still working in the fields, doing the hardest work with sweat and diligence. Every weekend, my father goes to church in his hometown. I know my father's prayers still consist of memories and blessings for his fellow workers, and may God comfort the underclass workers who toil in the world. This is the faith belonging to the people in the mining area. It’s simple, but also so sincere; there are no great ambitions, but there is always a boundless supply of confidence.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
信仰在煤矿工人心中的升华与凝炼
矿区里冬日的阳光，最懂得和谐之道，没有夸张热度，也没有吝啬暖意。矿区里的女人三五成群的在阳光底下，有的在打毛衣，有的在闲谈，有的在跟自家或邻家的小狗嬉戏。懒洋洋的，没有任何作为，像是暴露了矿区女人的不思进取。但矿区女人的这一颗心，无时无刻不在担心，甚至是滴血的担心。因为在井底的800米处，有她们的丈夫。丈夫——他的心上人，孩子的父亲，家的顶梁柱，每天都在跟生命赌博。
井下，越来越没有了安全感，因为矿区已经步入暮年，井下各种设施已经成为一个伤病缠身的老人，他们随时有出现暴毙的可能。矿区的工人们已经多次向矿领导反应这样的危机，听说也有人写信到市里了。但，一切都是无济于事，矿领导还是把大把大把的钱往自己口袋里送，而买新设备维修机器的事却无人提及。工人们的安全，生命，权益，在这个濒临倒闭的矿区，几乎是可以忽略不计的。
一切都是压抑的，抗议的声音是那么的没有力量，只听到工人们发的怨言：“工资太低，工作太辛苦”。但都是激情昂扬的开始，一声叹息的结束。
还有就是女人们因为心里的担心而在夜晚发出的祈祷。矿区的西边，有一座小教堂，夜晚，有女人在那里祷告，有的在祷告的时候会哭会喊。女人们面对丈夫的处境，她们只有低头做着微声的祷告。本来，女人们并不相信有上苍，只是为了安慰一颗担忧的心。但在跟信仰这些年的情感纠葛中，上苍以他的默然无声在女人的心中种下了希望和安慰的种子。以至于女人们在信靠中有了一股信心的力量。
或许，上苍也倾听了工人们的艰辛，也垂听了女人们的祈祷，只是他以沉默的方式回应。矿区也是沉默的不发一言。从血气方刚的青年时代，直到如今的两鬓斑白，陪着矿区走过几十年风雨的工人们，已经学会了容忍矿区的沉默和不做声。艰苦的劳动使得工人们面色憔悴而苍老；井下的粉尘和寒凉已使很多工人得了尘肺，矽肺，关节炎。在矿区干了30年的老人，拖着衰残的病体，落寞地回到家乡，拿的只是微薄的可怜的工资。
矿区的断壁残垣的痕迹，有一群矿区的老人，已经步入晚年的老男人。矿区剥夺了他们的生命的权益，也侵害了他们的健康。但，他们有着绝对的好脾气，没有计较矿区的爱恨情仇。在晚年，选择在矿区度过。依然没有灯红酒绿，依然没有锦衣玉食。是矿区的孤寂净化了他们的浮躁吧。没有了恨，没有了愁，只是享受晚年的慵懒与清闲。
那座教堂依然存在，那里依然有传道人讲解圣经。留在矿区的老男人和他们的女人，依然会去做祷告。曾经在危难的矿井，命悬一线，紧紧拽着信仰的衣领，祈求保护与庇佑。今天，在平静的陆地上，已无生命的担忧，但，矿区的人们，依然会去教堂。
因为，在与信仰周旋的这30多年里，已与上帝建立了深厚的友谊，就像老朋友，已经不能分离。或许，在虔诚的人们中间，已有人倾听到了信仰慈爱的呼唤。见到信仰的真谛，就在多年的诚恳与迫切的呼唤中。
我的父亲就是在这座煤矿工作了三十多年。父亲将自己的青春热血全部奉献给了煤矿事业。如今，他已经退休回到老家。在老家，父亲在种地，依然用他的汗水与勤劳做着最辛苦的劳作。每个周末，父亲会去家乡的教堂做礼拜。我知道父亲的祈祷中依然会有对工友们的怀念与祝福，愿上主抚慰在世上劳苦的底层工人们。这就是属于矿区人的信仰之道：朴实无华，却也是无比真挚；没有高言大志，却是充满无限信心。
The winter sunshine in a mining area knows the way of harmony best, without exaggerated heat, also without stingy warmth. The women in the mining area sit in groups of threes and fours in the sun, knitting, chatting, and playing with their own dogs or the dogs next door. They are lethargic, doing little, as if exposing the inactivity of women in a mining area. But in their hearts, worry lingers all day long, even a sense of desperation. Because at the bottom of the mine shaft, 800 meters down, are their husbands. The husband -- her sweetheart, the father of the children, the breadwinner of the family -- is gambling with his life every day.
Underground, the sense of security wanes day by day, because the mining area has entered the old age. The underground facilities are like a sick old man who may die suddenly. Workers who work in the mine have repeatedly complained to their leaders about the problems and have sent letters to the municipality. But all their efforts are to no avail. The leaders are still pocketing piles and piles of money, and the matter of buying new equipment and repairing the machinery is mentioned by no one. The safety, lives, and rights of the workers are almost negligible in this failing mine.
Everything is depressive, and the voice of protest is too weak. The only thing we can hear is the workers' complaints: "The wages are too low, and the work is too laborious." These words always begin with passion, then end with a sigh.
Then there are the women' endless prayers at night, because of the unending worry in their hearts. On the west side of the mining area, there is a small church where women usually pray at night, and some of them cry or shout when they pray. These women can only bow their heads and whisper prayers for their husbands, for the situations their husbands are in. Originally, they did not believe in God, and they just want to find some comfort for their worried hearts. After years of being emotionally entangled with faith, God silently planted the seeds of hope and comfort in these women's hearts. Now they have the power of confidence due to their faith in God.
Perhaps God has listened carefully to the hardships of the workers and the prayers of the women, but he chooses to answer them with silence. The mining area is also a land of silence. From their red-blooded youth to their greying twilight, the workers who have accompanied the mine for decades have learned to tolerate everything with silence. The strenuous work has made them look haggard and old; the dust and underground chill have left many workers suffering from pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and arthritis. Some old men who had been working in the mines for 30 years went back to their hometowns with only decrepit bodies and meager salaries.
In the old and broken houses in the mining community, there is a group of old people. Mining has already deprived them of their right to live happy lives and their health. But, they maintain even temperaments and do not care about the love and hatred within the mining community. In their old age, they choose to spend the rest of their lives there. They don’t fill their lives with feasting and revelry, and they don’t live extravagantly. It is the solitude of the community that has tempered their emotions. No hate, and no sorrow. They just enjoy the laziness and leisure of old age.
The church still exists, and there are still preachers explaining the Bible. The old men and their wives who remain in the mining community still go to pray. Once in the dangerous mine, with their lives hanging by a thread, the miners embraced the power of faith, and beg for protection and blessing. Today, in the land which is safe and peaceful, there is no fear of death anymore, but these people still go to church.
In these 30 years of struggling with faith, they have established a deep friendship with God. They are like old friends now, and cannot be separated. Perhaps the loving call of faith has already been heard by some people among the faithful long ago. To see the true meaning of faith, you need to carefully observe the sincere and urgent calling which has lasted for many years.
My father has worked in this mine for more than thirty years. He devoted all his youth and passion for the cause of coal mining. Now he has retired to his hometown. In his hometown, my father is still working in the fields, doing the hardest work with sweat and diligence. Every weekend, my father goes to church in his hometown. I know my father's prayers still consist of memories and blessings for his fellow workers, and may God comfort the underclass workers who toil in the world. This is the faith belonging to the people in the mining area. It’s simple, but also so sincere; there are no great ambitions, but there is always a boundless supply of confidence.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Faith in the Heart of Coal Miners
