We live in what is known as the ‘Free World’. A land where every person has equal opportunity to live, strive to be their personal best, love, worship, work and be who they are. Do you take that for granted?
Before Sept. 11, 2001, many people wandered through their daily lives, just living in the moment or worrying about tomorrow. It took a fatal and cowardly act to bestow patriotism in us. But why? On that one single day, we were ALL Americans. We were ONE NATION UNDER GOD and under attack. We all put the flags out and posted the ones our local newspaper provided for us in our windows. We all were more attentive to many a thing. We bought and wore anything that had to do with the flag. We put bumper stickers on our vehicles with sayings like…’these colors don’t run’…and ‘red, white and blue-through and through’. We all did something else. We looked at people differently, in two separate ways. One: anyone who looked ‘like an American’, we looked them in the eye…said hello to passing strangers…we prayed for peace together without separation of Church and State. We also looked at anyone who didn’t look like us as if THEY were our enemy. We didn’t mean to. It came out of confusion, fear and what to do next.
Suddenly anyone who wore their clothing draped upon them, had turban-like head wear, appeared to be ‘middle eastern’ or had an accent that resembled anyone from the Desert was not of us. Again, we didn’t mean to. We were frightened. Untrusting. In shock. We had questions that had no answers. However, we know now that we still know not who our enemy IS and who it IS NOT. We are, in our search for answers, in no different of a place than we were 6 years ago. Possibly and hopefully, less judgmental. See, they, who we looked at differently, had and still have their own questions and maybe if you ask them, their questions are no different than ours.
Everyone who reads this knows exactly where they were, who they were with, what they were doing when they heard the news. Some of us were in offices. Some of us at home watching it unfold with loved ones. And for some, talking with their loved ones who were aboard those planes and listening to their last words they’d ever hear from them. Only for the deafening silence on the end of the phone as the picture on the TV was more deafening than the silence…the voice fades and becomes silent as the second plane hits the Tower and they watch in horror just realizing they just witnessed their loved one die. Or to be having a conversation with their spouse or their child, trying to reassure them things would be OK. And the phone conversation ends with no response on the other end as the TV confirms yet another plane has hit the Pentagon or crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. They were there when IT happened…life as they knew it from those moments before had just ceased. Or how about being at a bus stop in some other city in America and having the appearance of being Muslim, Islamic or Arabic. Suddenly you find yourself being looked at in disgust as if people were saying ‘ how could you’ with their eyes. Or being an infant child, not knowing 6 years from now when you begin Kindergarten and the life your parent or parents lead has been turned in to nothing more than an hour long documentary. Maybe when you found out we were under attack, you were sitting idle at your desk, working a normal Tuesday work day when the roof, windows and walls of your office exploded and you found yourself and your co-workers lying under 8-10 feet of debris.
Whoever you are…wherever you were and however you found out….you always remember and NEVER FORGET!
We were all victims that day. Every single person here in America. Whether citizen, visitor, immigrant or alien. We were ALL victims. The point is not not remain a victim. Moving on with life does not mean forgetting. Always remember who you are, where you were, what you felt. If you feel, it means you are still alive to tell about it. To learn from it and teach others what you learned. Can we still be angry? Yes, but if that anger consumes you and lessens the quality of your life you have left to live here, then what is the point of having those feelings at all? Anger, when it consumes you, deadens you. You are unable to feel anything real. You become stuck in those moments 6 years ago, or in any trauma you have lived through, with no other purpose but to be angry.
Live THIS life. We only get one shot at this life. Stop worrying about how to pay this bill or that bill. Prosperity comes because God provides. Lift up your hearts, your burdens, your worries and discomforts to God and let Him be your ROCK.
This year, when you remember 9-11, remember ALL of those who were here that day. Not just the lives of the 3000 plus heroes we lost but ALL who were affected and remain affected by this tragedy. Fly your flag proud EVERYDAY, not just in May (Memorial Day), June (Flag Day), July (Independence Day), September (Patriot Day and Labor Day), October (Columbus Day), November (Veteran’s Day) and December (D-Day)—but everyday–if you can. If not, each day when you wake, and you thank God for giving you this new day, take a moment to reflect on what your life means to you and how you want to live it. What will you do today to make a difference and serve your purpose? Are you living the life you want to be remembered by?