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While I had visited the West Coast of the South Island a couple of times as a child, my first solo drive across the Alps was in January 1986 when a few days after my ordination as a priest I made the journey to take up my first priestly appointment as Assistant in the parish of Greymouth.

I remember that journey well. I was apprehensive as crossing Porters Pass I left the cloud behind and entered near-cloudless sunshine arriving early afternoon at the presbytery in Chapel Street.

The next three years in Greymouth and then (after a 15 month stint in Christchurch) back to the Coast for four years in Ngahere (Grey Valley) were wonderful years of real formation with the people of the Coast as my teachers.

Last night I was on the Coast again for a gathering of friends at a birthday party.

This time I travelled West from Canterbury sunshine into West Coast rain. But the rain too is beautiful on the Coast, never for long, sunshine breaking through often between brief showers.

The gathering was inspiring. I was at Chris’ 21st and now he is 60.

What a journey those decades have been for us all.

The surprising thing is that much of what has happened is – some would say – the luck of the draw. I’m more likely to call it providence or God-incidence.

Back then priests had no say in appointments. A letter was received from the bishop and a month or so later we were on our way to a new parish. And some of those places i was sent to turned out to be the happiest years of all.

I would have been more likely to choose Christchurch for a first placement, but that’s not what the bishop thought and so it didn’t happen.

So thank’s to that bishop back then I was able to celebrate with friends last night, people I knew only because a bishop chose Greymouth for me.

And I should probably thank that bishop also for giving me a love of the Coast weather, especially the fleeting and frequent rainstorms.

Thanks be to God.