I’ll be the first one to point out that had I been able to change my flight and fly home on the 11th, I wouldn’t have been anywhere near the planes that went down that day – I was clear across the country on the West Coast. But an hour into my flight, I would have been on one of the planes that were diverted to Canada and landlocked there for 3 days until the air space was cleared for safety.
Being unable to change my flight didn’t have anything to do with keeping me safe or away from terrorism. I believe it was because, quite simply, I was meant to be home on September 11th - to do the work I was doing at that time as a grief counselor and lay minister. I believe I was brought home a day early to be at the vigils and lead the prayers that so needed to be prayed as we all staggered and were brought to our knees in the wake of terrorism and unfathomable tragedy.
The same prayer I pray today on the 10th anniversary of 9/11:
Today we humbly ask, Father, Mother, God,
that you would wipe the tears of all in need of comfort.
That you would warm the heart of one who would grow cold from bitterness.
That you would lift the head of one who is bowed down in sadness.
We pray now for the strength to rise again, build again, and love again
We pray that you will help us rebuild our broken lives and mend our broken hearts.
We pray that we might be an instrument of peace in a world that suffers, we pray that you
will give us the courage to face evil and the faith to believe that good will never be
defeated, and there is no darkness more powerful than the light of love.
Hold us close to your heart, Father, Mother, God, through our tears, and our sorrow.
May we see a vision of a new tomorrow, but may we also always remember that day, that
time, that our hearts felt - for ourselves, for those who went down in the flames of
buildings and airplanes, for their families and loved ones, and for the world that grieved with
us in our great tragedy.
Every one of us remembers the tragedy of that day clearly - the looks on the faces of those on the street, survivors and those searching for lost loved ones, the looks on the faces of the emergency personnel and first responders, and the incomprehensible devastation of Ground Zero.
But amidst those images and remembrances, I hope that today we also give thought to the days that followed 9/11 – when we grasped what was truly important to our hearts – when we reached out to one another across time and distance, when we forgave old hurts and laid aside inconsequential and/or petty differences – when we made time in today for what we had been putting off until tomorrow.
The Dalai Lama was asked what he felt when confronted by man's hatred and fear. He replied that he felt great compassion.
Not sorrow, or helplessness, not rage or fear, but great compassion.
And when asked what should or could be done about the violence in the world, he replied, "Turn towards one another and pray, unceasingly and without end."
That’s how I started my morning today. In prayer. For those who lost their lives, for those who lost loved ones, for those that have lost their belief in light overcoming darkness, good triumphing over evil, and love being more powerful than hate, for those who are still trying to make sense of a senseless act, for those who hold onto hatred and fear.
I pray. Today and all days.
That’s all any of us can do.
The prayers matter.
And make a difference.
Really, they do.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Amen
(from the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)
2 comments:
You were meant to be home on that day, Queen.
As you have your karma, the souls who were lost in 9/11 had theirs as well, and there is much we will never understand that leads to knowing why.
Compassion and Peace are among two of the most important qualities of life, alongside love and appreciation.
Why must grief and tragedy occur in order for those to be emphasized?
I know you do all four regularly. Many do not.
Maybe this awareness can bring it home to those who have not so that they will now keep it in the forefront of their dailty habits.
And Amen to the prayers.
You are a gift, dear Dani. Thank you for this breath of beauty today.
With love,
Julia
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