Once again our heartfelt love, prayers and thoughts are with the people of Christchurch in the aftermath of the devastating February 22 earthquake.

So much has already been said about the quake, all the words have been used a thousand times over. But the horror, disbelief and grief – like the unnerving aftershocks – these jagged emotions keep coming.

All of New Zealand is hurting for and with the people of Canterbury.

It’s been said that we are a small country but we are one big family. And at times like this our country seems to become even smaller and the family ties grow stronger than ever as outpourings of love and practical help are spilled out on Christchurch.

The horror was made all the more real by the immediacy of the media coverage that served to emphasise the seeming randomness of sudden death and the corresponding fragility of human life.

Yet I sense that amidst the tumbled rubble lies uncrushed a thread of hope as fragile as gossamer and as strong as a steel hawser. Some call it the Canterbury spirit.

Amidst the sorrow, stories have emerged of miraculous survival, selfless courage and the brave and tireless efforts of those involved in search and rescue.

For me, there was one story that raised a smile amongst so much sadness.

In the rubble of the iconic Christchurch Cathedral rescuers looking for potentially 20 bodies found a small pigeon alive in an air pocket, thirsty and bedraggled but, amazingly, unharmed – a tiny spark of hope. His rescuers named him Barney Rubble. Soon after they realised that, miraculously, no bodies were trapped in the ruins after all.

Poet Emily Dickinson wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.”

In Hebrews it says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of things unseen.”

Already some of our Christchurch pastors are talking about their hopes for the future and the role the church will play in serving the Christchurch community as it rebuilds and reshapes.

As for the rest of us – we will all need to be there for our brothers and sisters in Christchurch for a long time to come, loving them, continuing to pray for them and helping them in practical ways to overcome this tragedy.

– Fran Pardon