Ten years to the day after 9-11-01...a few thoughts

Building up to this ten year anniversary, I’ve read a few comments online questioning the remembrance. The idea seemed to be, “It’s not healthy to cling to this, let it be in the past and move on”. I initially dismissed this as nonsense, but then a commenter drew the comparison to Pearl Harbor, and farther back to Gettysburg.

Now I’m not saying we can ever forget totally, or that we should, but there may be a point here. Some in my parents’ generation told me of Pearl Harbor, and I – and I suppose most “Boomers” – know of the significance of December the seventh. I seem to remember though that there used to be more interest in and talk about Pearl Harbor Day years ago than there has been recently. And I daresay that most people now alive would not be able to give the dates of the battle of Gettysburg.

My guess is that this 10 year anniversary of the September 11 attacks will remain the big one; sure it will be remembered and mentioned in years to come, but probably not to this degree. It just seems that people are resilient. We cope with tragedy, learn some lessons (and hopefully not forget too many of them), and move on. I’m glad that the memorials at ground zero, at the Pentagon, and at the crash site in Pennsylvania have been dedicated.

We’ve also been told that part of defeating the terrorists is to live our lives as normally as possible. We can’t let them win. But I’m confident that even if the details fade, we’ll never forget.

This time of year we see or hear the question, “Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001?” I still do , clearly, and I posted about it a few years ago. If you’d care to read that, click here. I’ve seen other questions about “How do you think things have changed”, and “Do you feel the same as you did 10 years ago on 9-11”?

I’d have to say that some things haven’t changed for me, but one has. I’m still sickened by the unspeakable evil of the act, and I’m totally disgusted by the people overseas who danced in the streets at the news; and I don’t need to spell that out further. I’m also still amazed by the bravery of the firefighters and other first responders. They may not have felt like heroes at the moment, but they were.

One thing that has changed, I don’t feel the fear of uncertainty that I felt 10 years ago today. I still recall watching the TV on that day in stunned silence, but it’s easier to forget the details of the great billowing dust as the towers fell and sensing the fear in people fleeing the scene. In those first few hours after we realized this was a deliberate attack, we really didn’t know if this was only the beginning. Would the terrorists strike closer to home? Would our lives be in jeopardy? Would our loved ones in other places be all right?

For most people, aside from inconveniences while flying, life has returned to normal, and I’m thankful for that.

The loss of over 2,970 lives was certainly a tragedy, no doubt of that. I’ve been dwelling on a different thought today. Just imagine how many hundreds of lives were saved that day by the firefighters, police, and other first responders. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Heroes, whether they admit it or not.

I’m composing this an hour after I watched the CBS special on 9-11 Ten Years Later. It was filmed by a young man who went along with one of the NYFD crews, and included interviews from many firemen involved with the rescue and recovery…a really moving tribute.

9-11 was mentioned in Pastor’s sermon at church today. As we entered the sanctuary, we were given a card with the following prayer:

Anniversary of 9/11 Prayer (from Portals of Prayer July-September 2011)

Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, amid a world full of tribulation, You encourage us saying, “Take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Thank you that Your peace is not the shallow, short-lived peace the world gives. By Your holy cross, You reconciled us forever to the Father, giving us the peace that passes understanding, the deep and lasting rest of sins forgiven. Grant us to know Your peace, even in the midst of troubles. Cause enmity among peoples to cease. By Your Spirit, grant that, as far as it depends on us, we may live peaceably with all. Amen.