A circle of stones

Today the school started for the first time since the quake and it was nice to see them all getting back. I helped cooking the sausages on the BBQ and it was good to be in that environment. My daughter has a course at Uni tomorrow. Most students have lectures in tents so that's where she probably wil be as well. There will be no chemistry lab so they are going to do problem solving on the computer. All good.

In the weekend we picked up some kids from the home and went for a long drive. To be honest we were going to go for a tramp but I forgot where the track started so we ended up going somewhere else. We went to Ashley Gorge, had a short walk and a picknick. It was good to go out as there is not much entertainment in Christchurch. Everything is closed, the central city, the forest, the cinema's everything. In two weeks time we are taking our teens to Hanmer Springs. They are in need of some relaxation as well.

Relaxing in the beauty of Ashley Gorge. The kids enjoyed themselves with skipping stones in the water. They had never done that before

but learned quickly and the stones bounced of the surface lots of times.

I loved this circle made in the river and started to ponder.  There is no beginning and no end. A circle is infinite and will always last. Like the connection between people. We have seen that with the earthquake the circle of people became stronger. People connected to hold on to each other. Every stone symbolises for me a contribution from somebody to make the circle stronger. Everybody has something to give: a smile, a helping hand, a listening ear.

I still feel a bit overwhelmed by what is happening, the earthquake here, the tsunami in Japan. I think by focussing on my circle here and try to strengthen and reaching out with a little light and love it is easier to move forwards. I can’t change the drama, but I can strengthen the circle where I am and send a ripple around which hopefully will grow a little bigger and little stronger along the way.

Arohanui, marja