Tuwhare is probably not as widely known as Hillary but I was introduced briefly to him through my daughters school studies last year. (http://www.honetuwhare.co.nz/) His poetry in particular has captured her imagination - his major, recurrent concerns, expressed through his writing were love, friendship, the life of the feelings, the experience of loss and death. It was sad to hear of his passing, but this man will live on through numerous writings; young and old alike will read his words, and like my daughter be transported from the mundane to the sublime - and in his words find challenge and release.
Despite the impact of Tuwhare his funeral today passed almost unnoticed in the shadow of Hillary's state funeral. A man known the world over for his conquest, (with Tenzing Norgay) of Mt Everest in 1953. However, until his death I was unaware that that was not what defined the man as special. It took guts and determination to climb Everest, and I don't want to minimise that - but it's what he did as a result of that fame that made him special. He devoted his life to helping the ethnic Sherpas of Nepal's Khumbu region. His Himalayan Trust has helped build hospitals, clinics, bridges, airstrips and nearly 30 schools and as a result was made an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.
Last night, with my family and a friend (Darren Hailes) I lined up with thousands of others (for two hours) in the squally rain to pass through the Church and view the coffin, the painting and the emblems of his life. As the line crawled toward the church, bikers, business men, children, grandparents all swapped memories and discussed the impact Hillary made on their lives - there was laughter, there were flowers - but the moment a person passed under the magnificent stained glass windows and through the church doors, there was silence, reverence and respect.It is interesting at these time to see that people of all nations, cultures and ages look for something beyond life. Not only are people looking for role models and heros, but there is an inherent soul reach for hope and meaning beyond death.
Where are the heros, the role models and the mentors? Where can people find hope, truth and meaning? If church is going to be relevant it needs to be occupied by people striving to be heros!
