Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Wandering Witch

Home
Pagan
what is remembered lives: grappling with loss in the midst of the white island tragedy

what is remembered lives: grappling with loss in the midst of the white island tragedy

Last updated on: December 12, 2019 at 8:14 am by Julia Penelope

what is remembered lives: grappling with loss in the midst of the white island tragedy 2019-12-12T08:14:39-05:00 Julia Penelope

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As I write this, I am struggling to understand how my beautiful friend Hayden Marshall-Inman could have been taken from the world so soon. Hayden was one of the victims who was killed in the volcanic explosion on Whakaari/ White Island in New Zealand this past week.

I knew Hayden for over ten years and was lucky enough to count him among my friends.

I want the world to know what a special person he was so I’d like to share some of my favorite memories of him.

Hayden and I at Te Urewera National Park– one of his favorite spots!

I backpacked in New Zealand for a year in 2016 and spent a significant amount of time with him in his hometown of Ōhope. He took us to all the local spots and took time off from work to show us around. One of my favorite memories of that year is when he took us to his favorite waterfall. He was a true adventurer at heart and was always challenging others to be brave and courageous. I found myself doing things I normally wouldn’t have done when I was with him, inspired by his zeal for life.

Later in the year, when we visited him again he took me out on one of the tours to Whakaari. I have very fond memories of my trip to the island, it was eerily beautiful and touched with sadness due to the historic eruption in 1914 that took the lives of 10 men.

Haydz and I at Whakaari/White Island in 2016.

I remember receiving a message from Haydz about a couple of guests who had been on White Island tours– the family of JRR Tolkien. I am a big Tolkien fan and Hayden was so excited to have met them. He told them that his friend Julia was a huge fan.

The first week I moved to New Zealand in January of 2016, I remember going into the bank to set up an account. I looked up at the TV and there was this breaking news story about a White Island Tours boat catching on fire. I immediately thought of Hayden and turns out he was on the boat. Everyone survived what could have been a really horrible tragedy, largely because of his and the other crew members heroic actions. He was one of the last people to jump off the boat.

I saw him a little over a month later when we went to visit him. He shared with me how it had really shaken him. It was very much a near-death experience for him and he believed that he was going to die when it happened. I believe that he viewed every day as a blessing after that, even more than he had before.

Hayden and I on the White Island Tour Boat. He was so proud when he got his captain’s license!

When I found out today that his last footsteps show him returning inland, indicating that he was trying to help others– it was no surprise to me. Everyone who knew him knew that he would have been trying to help others. It’s just the kind of person he was. He was a true hero.

Hayden loved his family and all his nieces and nephews. He was so attentive to kids and always made them feel special and loved. At the camp we worked at there were a lot of children who were underprivileged and sometimes had really difficult family lives. Fights and things would happen and Hayden would always reach out and spend some time with them. He always wanted to give people another chance. He told me once that the secret to working with kids was just to listen to them. He would just hold that space to be open for children.

What is remembered lives. Rest in power, my friend. I will honor your memory forever.

Back in 2009 on a lake in Maine. I am pictured in the green shirt in the canoe behind Hayden.

*all photos are the property of the author

Thoughts

hayden marshall inman

Previous Post

November 17, 2019

Life Update: The Wandering Witch

Next Post

February 21, 2020 Defying Museum Fatigue: 6 Tips to Keep You Going

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Archaeology France The Basics The Black Madonna the blog The Craft The History of Paganism Thoughts Travel Uncategorized United States witchcraft Witchcraft in Literature Witchery

Select a Month May 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In what city was Jesus born?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bethlehem Capernaum Nazareth Jerusalem