Positively Christchurch

OPINION - JOHN SELLWOOD 

Now did you watch the video and did the you see the Janus face? If you didn't can I suggest you look again. Look for the wonderful Robert Read from Suicide Prevention and Awareness. He's deliberately framed with a broken cathedral behind him with the sun on one side of his face and shadow on the opposite. This is our Christchurch and this if you like our Janus face.

For the mythology fans amongst you, Janus was an ancient Roman God, the doorkeeper of heaven and patron of the beginning and the end of things. He had two faces, one for the rising sun and one for the sunset (thanks Bullfinchs). But of late I've been thinking Janus has something to teach us about the pysche of our own city; Pysche being the ancient Greeks' revered goddess of the soul.

So here's the metaphor, which I'm sure you knew was coming! We can stand beside our broken past, continually looking back frozen in place and unwilling to move on, or we can turn towards the sun and on a fine day bask in the warmth of positivity and hope. Don't worry the shadows will still be there but we have the choice to walk elsewhere. I don't speak here as some distant observer, but as a local who's seen the keening knife of despair, and watched with true admiration those who despite the pain of appalling loss, have turned towards hope and renewal.

What defines Christchurch beyond a shadow of a doubt is our people and their experiences. We are people of kindness and compassion. We are people who have looked each other in the face during times of crisis and seen our shared humanity. We are a people who have chosen love over hatred, collaboration over competition. We are a diverse city of many people and many needs, but we are a city that cares.

For me Christchurch is a city of courage of compassion and of celebration. And I believe we owe it to future generations to fight the current narrative of negativity and reflect the best of who we are, and how others choose to see us even if we can't turn to face ourselves. We need to acknowledge and celebrate the kindness of our city, I believe that is our unique gift and an offering we can continue to share with the world.

In February, I started a facebook page called sharing stories of hope - we need to share positive narratives to remind ourselves of the goodness that is everywhere in this city, if we choose to look. Bad things happen yes I know, but is that what we want to offer our children? Please if it helps add your positive stories, tell your stories of renewal, share your stories of hope! https://www.facebook.com/livedhope/ But more importantly share them with each other around the dinner table, with family and friends, with strangers.

   

Now if you're thoroughly feed-up with my Pollyannaish approach here's another video, this is something I sent overseas a few months ago after being asked to define why this city is so special to me - my answer was compassion and kindness, it's how we care for each other in times of need.