Last week, I went to two "funerals," one was for a deceased student of mine who committed suicide a couple weeks ago, and the other was for a living friend who had been expecting for the visit of death since he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

My student had a beautiful funeral ceremony arranged by his colleagues. He died at the age of 34 survived with his parents and newly-wedded bride. He was a handsome and bright young commander of a police substation. Compared to many police officers, he had quite successful career and had won the admirations of his counterparts for his achievement. Surprisingly, he shot himself to die leaving no words behind. He died a mystery. I missed him. But I didn't understand why he would end his life in this way leaving his loving families and friend at shock and surprise.

The other "funeral" was a total different story. My friend was a professor of ophthalmology. Before his being diagnosed as a cancer patient, he was an optimistic and health scholar, educator and practitioner in medicine. His vision and hearing became so bad that he had rely on his wife to be his eyes and ears. As cancer started to move around, my friend began to realize his days were numbered. He has accomplished eleven books in the related fields of ophthalmology and optometry since his illness, and is working on the twelve book-an autobiography to record his triumphs and loses in the past experience of facing cancer.

Everyone has a very different life journey. Two funerals in a day is a very special experience for me. I wiped the tears on my face, my mind became clear than ever. When facing the challenges of my life, I know whose example I should follow. 

上周，我參加了兩場告別式。第一場是我學生的告別式，他在幾周前自殺身亡；第二場則是為一位朋友舉行的「生前」告別式，他在六年前被診斷出罹患鼻咽癌，從此病魔纏身，死神頻頻對他召喚。

我學生的告別式，在同事的精心安排下，隆重而淒美。他死時只有三十四歲，遺下父母與新婚的妻子。他英俊、挺拔、幹練，擔任派出所的所長，與其他許多警察相比，他的成就讓許多人豔羨。但是，他卻在眾人的驚訝聲中，沒有留下遺言的飲彈自盡。他的死成為一個永遠無法解開的秘密。我想念他，但是我不理解他為何要以這種方法結束生命，留給他愛的親友們無比的震撼與哀傷。

而另一場告別式，卻是完全不同的故事。朋友是位眼科學的教授。在被診斷為癌症病患前，他是個樂觀而健康的學者，教育家和醫生。罹癌後，他視力和聽力逐漸惡化，必須倚賴他的妻子作為他的眼睛和耳朵。當癌症細胞在他的身體四處流竄時，我的朋友開始意識到他的日子不多了。他開始努力著述，已經完成在眼科學和驗光學相關領域十一本專書，並且正著手進行第十二本書「自傳」，記錄抗癌過程中的得失經驗。

人的生命旅程都非常不同。在一天內的兩場告別式是難得的經驗，在擦乾眼淚後，我的心裡更清楚，當面臨生命的挑戰時，我知道誰是勇者，誰是我應該追隨的榜樣。