It’s been 12 years since the day that defined an entire generation.
12 years since nearly 3000 lives were abruptly brought to an end.
12 years since many have felt safe, secure and peaceful.
12 years of war…of terror…of seeking “justice.”
12 years of children who will never get to play catch with dad or read a book with mom.
12 years remembering..of never forgetting.
12 years of political posturing and arguing and blaming.
12 years of ache that come racing back to the forefront of my mine every time I hear the numbers 9-1-1.
12 years ago, I was in a seminary class. I watched the smoke billow out of the first tower. To my horror, I then saw the second plan strike the second tower. I sat there in disbelief. I felt I was watching a movie instead of real events. I raced to the coffee shop where I worked and by the time we had a TV and antennae hooked up, the Pentagon had been struck and the first tower was collapsing.
There wasn’t much baked that day from the Solomon’s Porch ovens. There was a lot of coffee consumed. There was a lot of hugs and tears. There was a lot of silence. There was a lot of people hanging around TV sets as we begged our news anchors to tell us something new, something that would bring comfort or sense to the madness. We watched until our eyes were bloodshot and when we went to sleep and in our beds we dreamed and recounted the images from day.
The conversations soon changed. We hurt. We hurt as a nation, we hurt as individuals. We saw images of other people celebrating the devastation. We began learning names like Taliban, Al-Quaeda and Osama. We learned terms like Weapons of Mass Destruction. People wanted reaction – we all wanted something to be done – something that would ease our pain. We had lived for so long with the belief that nothing could touch us. No one had ever “attacked” us – not on our soil. As a nation, we went from living blissfuly unaware to threat colors and intense screening and a constant sense of dread.
Then the war began. It was touted as a way to protect our interests, but it was also about retaliation. We went on the hunt for those responsible. We lost a lot of lives – we’re still losing lives. Leaders have changed. Policies have been written and rewritten. Blame has been placed. Politicians finger point and divisions that should have been eradicated are now deeper than ever. Lines are drawn and compromise is gone. Sides are taken and extremes seem to win. Clear judgment often is pushed to the side for the sake of being bold, or strong, or proud, or sensitive, or tolerant.
There was a bumper sticker that soon began to be displayed on cars. It was an American Flag with the words “the Power of Pride” in bold script. Pride does a lot to us. It can make us stand taller and give us a sense of worth or value. But Pride can also isolate and divide and be more consumed/concerned about being Right than about hearing all the story. Pride takes an exceptional concept, or nation, or people and can make them arrogant, elitist and dead wrong.
I pray that in another 12 years, we have learned a new power – the power of Humility. That we will let pride fall. That we will let divides be mended. That we will honor the lives lost. That we will acknowledge the regret of loss and war. That we may learn a new tactic of protecting our “interests” – that we will see that PEOPLE are in our national and best interests. That we will be able to look at people with whom we disagree and not see an enemy but someone we can learn from and, dare I say it, seek a compromise – and even better option moving forward. I pray that we will be intolerant of political posturing – that we will refuse to be swept up into “sides” and “divides”.
I pray for those who call themselves Christians in this nation. May we live as Jesus taught us, as servants. May we seek Righteousness that comes from purity and holiness, not self-righteousness that comes from knowing it all and forcing our ways on others. May we learn that we don’t need to have all the answers or be some elite club of do-gooders. Instead, may we love till it hurts. May we find ways to spread messages of reconciliation and forgiveness and ultimate Hope. Jesus said there will be wars and threats of wars and there will be people who will just be filled with hate. May it not be said that wars, threats and hate are in our pews, but may a new sense of freedom spring up and not just redeem the last 12 years, but may it bring a little bit of His Kingdom to earth in the process.
12 years…i pray we not waste another second.
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It was about the time of the Spanish American War that the word “ugly” was attached to the word “American.” It was also about that time that Americans, feeling confident and energized from a rising standard of living emanating from the Industrial revolution, sadly began to question the role of the Church and even God himself. And with these trends the Ugly American became uglier. The only way we as a society, as a country and as a people are going to win the respect of others is if we restore ourselves as true Christians in the eyes of God, and the only way we’re going to do that is by living by the principles Jesus taught us. It would be nice if we saw the process begin in Washington, but that will never happen. It begins with an honest relationship with God, then spreads through our homes and neighborhoods. If enough of us accept the words of Jesus and live them, we would see the “ugly” fall away from “American,” and we would have the respect of the world. More important, we would have the approval of God. There’s nothing in this world that can’t be set straight simply by using the Bible and the words of Jesus as our sources of wisdom and authority.
Great God, You can see our every tragedy. You remain worthy; above human affairs.
Bring Your peace to us. You do not will that anyone should die. Involve Yourself in our struggles and end all violence.
Reveal to us today what we need to know.
Forgive us when we assume we know what others feel. Let us search for You even in our enemies.
Help us resist the urge to be right. Take us over with Your righteousness.
Through Your power, bring all people into Your presence. Showcase Your glory for all time.
Amen.