War Cry
I’m writing this to honour my wife, Rachel. I’ve just had round three of my chemo and thought it best to get this down ‘on paper’, as it were, before I head into the next few days of vapor-like existence as the drugs work their way through my system.
When I was single and stupid I asked God to make sure I never married a New Zealander or a singer. I have no idea why I said that but it’s true, I did. I’m so glad he saw through the stupidity of my ‘request’ and decided to ignore it… instead, bringing me an incredible woman who was, in fact, both of the things I thought I wanted to avoid. How right He was and how grateful I am.
Rach loves her homeland, Aotearoa…. land of the long white cloud…. and over the years I too have grown to love it. In particular, the Maori culture. It is all at once beautiful and ferocious. Passionate and noble. Creative and soulful.
So, as a skinny white guy from Australia, I’ll put my best Haka face on and stand up in defense of my whanau, my family, and say this…..
Au, au, aue, ha! – This is my time! This is my moment!
Ka tū te Ihiihi – Stand up to the fear
Ka tū te Wanawana – Stand up to the terror
Ki runga ki te rangi – To the sky above!
E tū iho nei, tū iho nei, hī! – Fight up there, high up there. Yeah!
Ponga rā! – The shadows fall!
Ponga rā! – Darkness falls!
Ka mate, ka mate – I die, I die
Ka ora’ Ka ora’ – I live, I live
Ka mate, ka mate – I die, I die
Ka ora’ Ka ora’ – I live, I live
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru – This is the man
Nāna i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā – Who caused the sun to shine again for me
Upane… Upane – Up the ladder, Up the ladder
Upane Kaupane – Up to the top
Whiti te rā! – The sun shines!
Hī! – Rise!
I think Tana Umaga does it best….. and I like to think the angels going to battle for me look a little like this before they bring some pain to my enemy’s doorstep. If I could stand physically in front of my cancer, this is what I would do…. this is what it would see.
Game on.
Ah – how to touch the kiwi hearts following your journey! The Haka, and the All Blacks
!!!!
Continuing to pray for you Kristian… Kia Kaha, Stay Strong!
Elizabeth
WOW!!! – who would of thought that our sknniy, white, gentle Kris would be the mighty warrior he is!!! Praise God that we have an amazing/ gracious/ merciful Father that hears the prayers of his people….especially those mighty prayers from Cody!!! A child’s prayer is powerful – simple faith – amazing results!
Kia Kaha Kristian – you guys are in my prayers
Kirstin
*tear* Those angels are all ‘game on’ for you, no doubt.
Game on indeed! If I was your enemy and saw your defenders at my door, I would be truly terrified! You are an inspiration.-Stephanie