Streams of Mercy

Memories of 9/11 fill our hearts as we mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day. On that September morning, I was in a former church, preparing to host the monthly meeting of the County Minister’s Association. The organist’s daughter called telling us to turn on CNN, that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. Our secretary rushed to her home nearby to bring a small television set so we could watch the coverage in the office together. It was difficult to believe what we were seeing with our own eyes.

As the minutes passed and events unfolded, our meeting was postponed, and all our churches opened for prayer. Our church mission team was in Mexico, and when we heard the borders were closed, our hearts were filled with concern for their well-being and their safe return home. I remember the shock of seeing objects falling from the windows of the buildings, and the absolute heartbreak in realizing I was seeing desperate people jumping from the burning buildings.

I remember President Bush pausing in reading a book in a pre-school classroom, turning aside to hear the news and quickly excusing himself from this time with the children. I remember my four year old grandson looking up at a plane passing overhead that afternoon, and running in fear into his mother’s arms – something American children have never had to worry about. Our world would never be the same.

My personal world would never be the same, either. Early in the afternoon, my brother called to say our mother had died. She was to be released from the hospital the next day, and I was going to be with her as she regained strength at home. By the time I was off the phone, friends had been given the news and were waiting at home for me – even my former congregation had been called by our secretary. I faced the task of calling my children at college and planning our meeting and traveling together, to celebrate a life well-lived and close a chapter in all our lives.

In addition to my personal memories of the day, I watched many of the special programs from day to day last week, and remembered with others the events of those days. Former President George W. Bush commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on Saturday at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, recalling a time of American unity, drawing a sharp contrast with the present-day divisiveness of the country’s politics.

“For those too young to recall that clear September day, it is hard to describe the mix of feelings we experienced,” Mr. Bush said. “There was horror at the scale of destruction, and awe at the bravery and kindness that rose to meet it. There was shock at the audacity of evil, and gratitude for the heroism and decency that opposed it … the actions of an enemy revealed the spirit of a people, and we were proud of our wounded nation.”

Of all the words I heard or read in these days of remembering, his words spoke truth to my heart:

“Malign force seems at work in our common life that turns every disagreement into an argument, and ever argument into a class of cultures. So much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear and resentment. That leaves us worried about our nation and our future together … I come without explanations or solutions …I can only tell you what I’ve seen. On America’s day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor’s hand and rally to the cause of one another. That is the America I know…. At a time when nativism could have stirred hatred and violence against people perceived as outsiders, I saw Americans reaffirm their welcome of immigrants and refugees. That is the nation I know..….At a time when some viewed the rising generation as individualistic and decadent, I saw young people embrace an ethic of service and rise to selfless actions. That is the nation I know.”

I was struck by Mr. Bush’s warning against domestic extremism, saying that “the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but from violence that gathers within.” So very true.

Twenty years have passed. We remember, we reflect, we recognize how far we’ve come and how far we have to go to live up to the ideals on which our nation is founded, and we look forward to the coming of that day.

Elizabeth