I
n 2021, an enormous iceberg broke off from the western side of Antarctica's Ronne Ice Shelf into the Weddell Sea. This iceberg is nearly four times the size of New York City and it’s shaped like a giant ironing board. It’s named A-76 and it’s the biggest iceberg on earth. And of course, most of A-76 is hidden under the water. As we continue to move through COVID-19 and the peak and the aftermath of Omicron, the image of the iceberg has something to say about the pandemic. The diverse conversations and the variety of actions we are seeing across New Zealand are only the tip of the iceberg. Hidden under the water of everyday life, lies something much bigger—our feelings and our values and our perceptions about life.
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INTO THE HILARY HAGUE | SUNZ National Director
8 www.sunz.org.nz
Hard times often bring our beliefs and the things that are important to us to the surface. They expose weak spots and difficulties as well. COVID has done this for Christians as we relate to God and live out our faith. The pressure of the ongoing pandemic and the unrest evident across our nation has demanded immediate change in many aspects of church life, including our friendships and our participation in worship. From requirements that change the way we can meet as church to decisions around health that have wider implications, the usual patterns of Christian faith here in New Zealand have been deeply dislocated in the past two years.
