reflections on 9/11
I got my ticket, checked my bag, and headed for the TSA security gauntlet. I entered the vast, spired atrium to behold a typical scene. Hundreds of would-be airplane passengers were waiting for their turn to be examined by various detection devices designed to prevent another crazy person from blowing something and someone up.
Denver airport is beautiful. Its white spires aptly represent the Rocky Mountains they portray. Inside, the terminal is typical of large airports. On this day, it seemed like everyone in the nation decided to travel again. The lines were extremely long. I gave myself plenty of time to arrive at my departure gate, but I was now concerned that I would not make it in time.
Fortunately, thanks to my daughter, I have Clear! One may pay this company to permanently pre-check your identity, which, if acceptable, allows instant access to the front of the line. It’s worth every dollar. I thought this terminal did not have Clear until I was directed to another long line in another area. As fate would have it, I passed the Clear check-in area on my way to the other long line. It was an oasis in the middle of a travel desert. I placed my eyes up to the retinal scanner and my fingers on the fingerprint scanner, and viola, I was in.
When I was growing up, my dad traveled a lot. One of my favorite excursions was picking him up at the airport in Indianapolis. In those days, all the aircraft were propeller-driven, and there were no jet bridges. Passengers departed down steps onto the tarmac and into the terminal. Anyone could stroll right into the airport and wait for travelers right at the gate. I anxiously anticipated the foreign currency my father brought me to add to my coin collection. Then it was off to White Castle for a bag full of sliders. Ah, those were the days!
As we know, the events of September 11, 2001, changed everything associated with air travel and well beyond. That terrible day taught or reminded us of some profound truths.
Like most Americans, I watched in stunned silence as the second plane slammed into the tower behind Katie Couric on the television screen. I was preparing to attend my weekly Bible study group, which I canceled. It did not seem appropriate at the time, and no one wanted to take their eyes off the news the entire day.
As the days passed, silence turned into anger and then sadness. A base desire for revenge sometimes eclipsed our outcries for justice. Somebody needed to pay for this travesty, and eventually, they did. But neither justice nor revenge provided solace to the thousands of family members and friends who lost loved ones that day.
Did the events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, teach us anything? I think so. When tragedy befalls us, there is always something to learn and then a time for action. For your consideration, these are some of my conclusions.
Every individual, community, congregation, organization, state, and nation will endure tragedy during your lifetime, and calamities often occur when you least expect them. No amount of wealth and power can insulate us from catastrophic events. No matter how thoroughly we prepare, it is impossible to cover every possible contingency.
Try to view crisis from a larger perspective. Since The Greatest Generation, none of us has experienced a total economic depression or a World War. Our parents and grandparents endured two World Wars and the Great Depression. Life continued after those conflagrations, which is why we are still around to read about it. We will get through COVID-19 and learn much along the way. Be vigilant.
In this life, you/we will have trouble. I propose you find something or someone beyond yourself through which you can process the hard times. For me, it’s Jesus and His purpose and values. So far, He’s never failed me.
Be gracious towards those who lead us through hard times. When disaster strikes, we seek someone or something to blame. Our condemnation often falls upon those who navigate the tragedy for us. Most often, God or our leaders become targets of our anger. Leaders are not superhuman and will always make mistakes. So many criticized how President Bush handled the 9/11 crisis. I think to myself, “Humm . . . I wonder what they would have done had they been in his shoes.” I love the old Native American proverb. “Don’t criticize a person until you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.”
Woulda, coulda, shoulda are not very helpful sentiments for navigating challenging times. Like our very human leaders, we will make many mistakes, but your mistakes do not have to define you.
Aggressive hatred exists all over the world. Sometimes this nasty disease gains the resources to hurt many people. Don’t be naive or surprised by it. There are people in the world who thrive on hate. Sometimes their hatred turns deadly. It is easy to return hatred in like manner. Never forfeit hope in the future and determination to do what is right, for contempt. Love wins. One of Jesus’ most difficult appeals is that we must love and do good to those who hate us. Whew, Lord! That’s a tough one. Therefore . . .
Love your neighbor, all your neighbors, as yourself. Be they Black, White, Asian, Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, etc. Enjoy and celebrate our differences. Hatred is like gangrene. It is deadly and spreads quickly.
Beauty indeed rises from ashes. After the initial anger and frustration of the cowardly attacks on our nation, my frustration morphed into steely determination. I knew that we would rebuild the fallen buildings bigger and better. We did. Into the depths of lower Manhattan where once stood the Twin Towers lies the 9/11 Memorial. Visiting this beautiful shrine is a moving experience. And, right next to the memorial standing 1,792 feet, is One World Trade Center. It is a testament to the resilience of a nation.
9/11 is a microcosm of all our lives. It represents the struggle between good and evil, action and reaction, love, and hate. We each have choices to make on several fronts.
Most of us reading this article have similar values such as love, justice, mercy, grace, family, friendship, opportunity, and freedom. The magic is to realize that each of us expresses our values uniquely and with different intensities. We must appreciate and celebrate our God-given remarkable characteristics and differences. At the same time, we must manage the radical few who embrace evil values and wisely respond to their actions.
Evil cannot and will not win. Love overcomes. Choose love.
Live Inspired!
Don Mark
