Innocence .....

.... lost.

These dear children were playing so happily this morning. I couldn’t help but remember words I’d read earlier that New Zealand has lost its innocence and will never be the same.

The horror that has been visited on so many around the world has now been visited on us. We’re no longer that safe little country at the bottom of the world.

It’s been a strange day, seemingly very quiet & subdued. However, on TV News tonight, I was very heartened by the reactions of everyone shown. As well as the love & prayers & singing & flowers & cards shown, there were 2 senior Muslim leaders interviewed, who said that they love New Zealand, and that they know that yesterday’s horror wasn’t perpetrated by New Zealanders. Such brave and courageous words. And true.

Many words have been spoken today. I appreciated two in particular.

One was on a sign held by well wishers near the flowers lining the wall near Hagley Park. It said ‘We love Muslims. You are Whanau”. Whanau is Maori for ‘family’.

The other was on many signs held by well wishers, saying ‘Kia Kaha Muslim community’. Be Strong.

The situation is still horrific. There are 49 people dead and 48 still fighting the effects of gunshot wounds. Some are seriously ill in hospital.

The survivors have been reached out to by the Christchurch community in a way I’ve never seen before. The Prime Minister has promised support for all the survivors and their families.

Kia Kaha indeed.