The hours go by and rescue teams from all over the world arrive to help in Christchurch, which resembles pictures I have seen of Afghanistan under attack, or London after the air raids of World War 2.
The response from countries all over the world makes one realize how many loyal friends New Zealand has and how highly thought of this small nation in the Pacific is, all over the world. Messages from the Queen, the Pope, global dignitaries, and world leaders, offering New Zealand help, assistance, and condolences during her darkest hours, makes me as an adopted Kiwi feel amazingly proud.
Every time I see pictures of Christchurch devastation, I get a lump in my heart that aches. There are still many, many people missing. Sons whose dads are missing and vice versa. Mums whose daughters are missing, and vice versa. Relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues, all missing. There are so many stories. Buildings that are not safe for the rescuers, because they may collapse. The picture to the left is an image of Christchurch Cathedral, which has been, sadly, almost completely destroyed in the earthquake.
How painful it must be as hour by hour, these brave and courageous rescuers have to give up hopes of rescue, and move into recovery mode, and the death toll rises.
I have always believed in the power of ONENESS and no better is it demonstrated than in Christchurch, where people are helping each other, people formerly unknown to each other giving hugs, and support. The university students have created a 10,000-strong student army, people are volunteering every day to HELP.
Last night I talked to my friend, and colleague, the CEO of our New Zealand business, a 20 year plus veteran of Search and Rescue. He was visiting Christchurch for the day to work with City Council Managers. He had just started his lunch break when there was a horrendous noise, and 3 floors of glass window frontage splintered into thousands of pieces and rained down on him. It is a miracle he is alive, in what he described as his worst experience ever. He said he spent the afternoon in a daze, with hundreds, thousands of other people walking the streets. Last night we spoke, he is back in Wellington now, and he said, “I am still shaking.”
I talk to God a lot, something I do not normally share, as it is a private thing for me. But on the events of Christchurch, I do not know what to say to him. One thing I do believe is that, over many years, I have learned, “God's way of giving you a gift is wrapped inside a problem.”
Currently, with all the turmoil and the events to come of people without places to live or places to work at, displaced to other cities, with a heavy continuance of aftershocks, it is hard to identify what the gifts will be.
But there will be gifts.