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GRAFFITI

“Morning Bill!” I said in a happy voice to our school caretaker. Normally he would have replied in a positive way. Not today. “Someone’s graffitied the back concrete block fence. I’ll have to paint over it, ” was his reply. Just as Bill wandered off I noticed three people walking towards me. I recognised the parents but not the teenage boy. They stood together in front of me in an awkward silence. “Phillip*has something to say to you Steve.” In a quiet voice he said, “I’m sorry for tagging your fence.”  Now, I’ve done some dumb things in my life, most of them during my teenage years, so I easily identified with him. I accepted his apology, but the problem wasn’t fully resolved. “I’m going to organise with Bill some paint and a brush for you. Every Friday afternoon, you can repaint a section. It will be after 4pm, so no students will be in the grounds. I have no wish to shame you.” We shook hands.  So, every Friday afternoon for five weeks, he turned up on time and worked hard ...
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CLOSURE

The Narrows bridge spans the Waikato River, near Mystery Creek, Hamilton. It’s a bridge with a long way down to the dark, swirling waters below.  ‘Back in the day’ thousands of mostly young people were attending the nearby Parachute Music Festival. A few people taking some time out from the crowds were jumping off the bridge, until a ‘jumper’ didn’t surface. Frantic friends and bystanders began looking for him. No sign of life as small whirlpools moved around in decreasing and increasing circles.  A little while later, I got a phone call from a nearby resident who knew I had a kayak. “We’re now looking for a body, Steve. Can you help?” “Yep.”  Within the hour I off loaded my kayak next to the bridge and began my search. Dreading bumping into him I kept on reassuring myself that finding him would bring closure to the man’s family.  Heading downstream and watching where the current ebbed and flowed, something in some tree branches caught my eye. Nudging my kayak into t...
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DO what YOU can - KINDNESS in a CRISIS

Last Thursday morning a landslide from Mauao hit the Mount Maunganui Holiday Park and Mount Hot Pools. Teams of responders worked around the clock in dangerous conditions to reach trapped people.  The local community including iwi rallied around the rescuers and affected families. Generous offers of accommodation, free food, drinks and prayers were given and accepted. Locals, Rachel and Brooke arrived in Pilot Bay with armloads of muffins for the rescuers. They acknowledged that they were unable to do work on the ground, “But what we can do is bake and offer our support with kai (food). We want to show how much we appreciate them and our gratitude for everyone.”  The team leader of the Rapid Response unit Doug said that trained volunteers have been working in shifts making meals for rescuers. He also said that the searchers had shown huge dedication in trying to find the lost people. “They don’t give up.”  Rachel, a director of Little Big Markets cancelled their markets, ...
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ALL GOOD

I’ve recently been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. (A common heart rhythm disorder). I’m asymptomatic so I don’t feel any different. With a change of medication I was fatigued for a while, but I can still exercise with swimming and walking.  I have limited my caffeine intake but still enjoy a once a day coffee. Last week, at Surf Co cafe in Raglan I saw Ataera start to put out the chairs and tables, while his partner Pania got ready to open the servery. Occasionally I’ve helped out with the furniture setting up, so I started to walk over to help Ataera. He looked at me and in a reassuring, respectful voice said, “No Steve. I know what you’ve got.” (Referring to my heart issues). The tone of his voice struck me - assertive, but not demanding, firm but kind. He just wanted to look after me in his own way. It was my turn to show some grace and accept his kindness, so I sat down and smiled. Ataera looked at me again and said, “All good.”  And it was. 
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My KIND of LANGUAGE

A man in a Dominion Rd cafe in Auckland sat by himself in the same seat for a long time and would often just stare into space. He spoke to no one and no one spoke to him. He was from an Asian country.  My twin brother Chris noticed him and then introduced himself. The man replied, “No speak English.”  The next time Chris saw him, he gave him a wave and the man waved back. The third time Chris saw him, he decided to give the man one of his bird artwork cards that are sold in the cafe. He put the card, his gift to the man, on the table, but it was pushed away. Chris said, “It’s for you,” and pushed it gently back. The man smiled, gave Chris the thumbs up sign and held the card close to himself.  I asked Chris why he persevered. His reply. “Because he is one of us and I wanted the man to know that someone cares.”  Let’s be honest and admit that it can be more difficult to be kind to people that don’t speak our language or look like us. Be kind anyway and don’t give up i...
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MEMORIES and LESSONS

My nephew Ben wrote and recently presented a speech about gratitude (which also featured his grandfather Peter (my father)) to the junior high school students of Mackenzie College.  He posed the question: What is gratitude?  Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Ben reflected on the volume of memories and lessons from his grandfather, someone who had a significant impact on his life. He continued. I thought about fishing on his boat where he taught me the meaning of patience. The fish don’t bite instantly, you have to wait, watch and be still. I remembered him coming to most of my rugby games, standing on the sideline, rain or shine. That was a lesson in unconditional love and commitment. I thought of the fun we had, the silly pranks and jokes, the wrestling matches, all simply lessons in fun and joy. Most importantly, I remember the countless examples of kindness - the way he always went out of his way to h...
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A CROSS for MOLLY

Last Wednesday Lucy, (a classroom teacher at Te Uku School) and I were in her classroom before the start of school. We looked up to see a large group of her students slowly and respectfully approaching us.  One of the students was carrying a cross. It was beautifully painted cross with a white background, bright flowers, a star and a love heart. On the bar of the front of the cross was written ‘In Loving Memory of Molly Dog’ and on the back were the names of the students in her class.  The cross was carefully handed to Lucy with young eyes watching in anticipation. With tears in her eyes and a breaking voice Lucy thanked them all for their kindness and caring at the passing of her beloved west highland terrier.  The compassionate connection between teacher and students was palpable.  Lucy shared with me this morning that Molly was a loyal, kind and mischievous member of their family. When Lucy was teaching in Auckland Molly gravitated to the tough boys. These same bo...
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