It seems unbelievable that it is only a week since the earthquake. But it is. Today at 12:51 we are all being asked to have a two minute silence to remember the devastating effect of this quake on all the people of Christchurch and especially those who have lost family and loved friends and those who are waiting for news. This will be a poignant moment across the whole country. Just thinking about the country stopping to remember sends a small shiver down my spine.
A week on all our emotions are surfacing and we need to be careful of ourselves and of each other. Last night I got really grumpy that I couldn’t find the remote for the TV. It was everyone else’s fault and I was stomping around grumpily looking for it and blaming everyone else. I wanted to sit down for a few minutes and think about something else, get lost in some inane TV programme. We eventually found it in a spot that only our grandson could have put it and I felt stupid for being so grumpy. How are your emotions surfacing? In the midst of this week it is extremely important that we take the space to look after ourselves, identify our feelings and find good spaces to let these feelings surface. Some of us will feel very sad and want to cry, others get grumpy and others may still primarily feel numb. Look after yourself and be gentle with those around you.
Working with people who deal with grief and sadness often I have learnt that each of us has within us an emotional jar. Each drop of sadness and loss falls into this jar and slowly it fills up. Somewhere along the way our jar of grief and sadness overflows. We think we are doing fine and are OK and then suddenly we the littlest of things can trigger tears, a deep sense of loss and despair as our jar over flows. We need these times to healthily empty some of the grief from our lives. Don’t be surprised if something like this happens to you over the next couple of weeks. And if it does be gentle – let yourself cry and share your sadness with someone close and with God.
Go well today and care for those around you
Grace and peace
Alan
