Extraordinary times

At the moment in the world there are snow storms of massive proportions, extreme rains, cyclones and now earthquakes in our neighbouring island New Zealand. I am amazed at how much devastation can occur in such a small amount of time, the people of Christchurch have had to endure 2 earthquakes in six months and both times they have proved that people, in times of horror like this, can become the most amazing of heroes. These people, admist the utter chaos and shock, came together to get complete strangers out of the rubble they were surrounded by, people stopped in their cars and offered others rides home so that they could check on their own loved ones and homes, and then there are the men and women, who although trained for this job, have pulled people out from the most twisted of buildings and metal, they put their own lives on the line to pull out people that they have never met before and give comfort to those who remain trapped until they can be freed. There are men and women who have been criticized by those who have never been in this situation, for making the horrific decision to move to another building where life signs are heard and there are people who are still alive and making their situation known, the choice to move from a pile of twisted rock and metal that is silent apart from the groaning of the rubble as the earth continues to shake to one with absolute life  is hard and guilt ridden but the choice has to be made to save those who are obviously alive. This is not a job that anyone would want to take but it is a job that must be taken and only those who have ever been in this situation have the right to make comment, no matter how much you think you are owed an opinion, these men and women are the bravest most amazing heroes in the world and while I pray that more people are saved and that the death toll is less, I pray most for these people who have to deal with life and death hands on and who are most deserving of our praise and nothing less.