Early this morning, I received a phone-call from Sue Halapua, Archbishop Winston's wife.  Sue was ringing from their home in Suva, Fiji.  I was greatly relieved to hear her voice, as we have all been praying for the Fiji islands as they have been subjected to the terrible power of Cyclone Winston.  She wanted to reassure us that they were safe, that there is much damage, and that she is waiting to hear from the low-lying areas of Suva, especially the village of Wailoku, which I happened to visit two weeks ago.  The photo that accompanies this reflection is of a children's play-ground near the school.  It was built by girls from our own Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, and is a reminder of the bonds that tie us together as a three tikanga church.

Today marks five years since another dreadful natural disaster forever affected the people and places of the Canterbury region and the city of Christchurch.  Two years ago, we marked that as a Diocese, with 185 tolls of the Cathedral bell at St Peter's Cathedral in Hamilton, and 185 minutes of silence, at 12.51pm, the time the deadly 6.3 earthquake struck.  We stood together as a Diocese to remember and to honour the memory of those who lost their lives on that day.  Minutes after that, we worshipped God in the service during which I became the 7th Bishop of Waikato.  Bishop Victoria of Christchurch was with us on that day, and played an important part in the liturgy where Archbishop Philip and I committed ourselves to dual-episcopacy.

Yearly anniversaries are important ways of marking what has gone before, but also for looking ahead.  I am constantly challenged by words of the former UN Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjold: 'For all that has been, thanks; for all that shall be, yes!'  Whilst those words make immediate sense if we feel genuinely like giving thanks, they become challenging when we say them in the light of situations that have cause us pain and distress. Herein lies the challenge and the reassurance of the Christian Gospel, particularly during this Lenten season.  While we journey in the shadow of the Cross, the light and hope of the resurrection is stronger.  Our task as disciples is to constantly give heed to that reality, and to make that hope active in our daily lives.

As I look back over these past two years, I rejoice and give thanks for all that has been; and I utter a resounding 'yes' to all that shall be, mindful that whatever the circumstance, God goes before me.

Arohanui,

+Helen-Ann Waikato.