Thursday, 23 February 2012

Blessings

Today we mourned with the people of Christchurch, together with those from around the world, who lost loved one in that devastating earthquake on the 22 February a year ago. An earthquake that once again shook this already traumatised city. On this day 185 lives were lost. We remembered them. 


Today was a day of remembrance, honouring and memories. The Memorial Services were moving, emotional, and all encompassing of  the many faiths, cultures, organisations and people whose lives were changed forever that tragic day a year ago. 


It was also a day of blessings. Blessings of hope, of the gifts of love and friendship, of coming together and sharing the pain and the grief, the feelings of loss and emptiness. Blessing of encouragement and those visions of rebirth, of a new life and new beginnings.


I felt overwhelmed with emotion, of the great sorrow of the occasion yet also blown away by the stories of courage, bravery, resilience and the combined teamwork during those dark days and ever since. Each one a never to be forgotten blessing. 


I think this quote by Harriet Beecher Stowe sums up really succinctly the courage and determination of so many since that momentous  day a year ago.


 'When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, 
till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, 
never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn'.  



Tears flowed 
hearts ached
the grief was raw

Words were spoken
hearts were opened
there's a city to restore

With the butterfly release
came the hope of transformation
and blessings of much needed peace

Names were read
each one so poignant
as we remembered the dead

Voices were raised in song
to praise the common man,
all who toiled so fearlessly, so long

Those heroes and heroines
who came from far and wide
knowing that who dares wins!

This city will rise again
lives and homes will be rebuilt
even though the pain and grief  remain

May the message of hope
symbolised in the butterfly release
be a God given blessing and the way to cope.






a


No comments:

Post a Comment