I Wish You Enough

It has been raining here in Canterbury for many days. Heavy, non-stop rain that is causing widespread flooding and devastation. The dry grounds can’t absorb the water, river banks are breaching and some bridges and roads are impassable. Trapping communities, no roads in or out. A drive that usually takes 2 hours, is now taking 13 between some towns, due to long detours. My heart is going out to all those affected by the flooding.

Being from Taranaki I am used to the rain, we can have days of rain, then it’ll clear and we’ll just carry on the whole time. Though there is generally no flooding fortunately. But these last few days have been different. The rain hasn’t stopped.

Today though when I woke up, I realised I couldn’t hear the hum I had gotten so used to. I peered our my curtain and could see stars. Stars! The sky was clearing! The day had patchy cloud and the odd bit of drizzle. But as I was walking home from uni at the end of the day, the sky had cleared completely. It was stunning shades of blue and pink and orange. The Port Hills were basking in the fading light, glowing golden.

It was bliss. The world looked so much more beautiful than how I remembered it before the rain. Sometimes we need the rain to appreciate the sun more. It’s like the poem I have stuck on my bedroom wall. It’s called ‘I Wish You Enough’.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright, no matter how grey the day appears.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.