Airplanes were grounded, buildings were in flames, streets were filled with smoke, emergency personnel from everywhere came running, heroes were made, heroes were lost, countless eyes were glued to the screen as the questions, "what just happened?" and "how much more?" rang through the minds of countless Americans.
I remember the day vividly. I woke up that Tuesday morning with nothing else on my mind, but the fact that I was turning ten! Two whole hands worth of fingers, people! It's a big deal, when you are ten. My family always watched the news in the morning before school, so just like any other day the news was on the tv. We got dressed, ate breakfast, and I packed up my birthday treat that I was bringing to my fellow 4th graders. I can't remember what the treat was, but I would guess chocolate was involved! Ha. As we were about to leave for school, the news broke that one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York had been struck by a plane. Live footage from news helicopters flooded the screen. I was ten so I didn't really understand, but I could sense the tension and anxiety of the reporters. My mom, who was a very timely woman, didn't move. "We're going to be late," I said tugging on her shirt. We didn't move, but watched. And watched live as the second plane blew through the other World Trade Center Tower. What? I went to school and class went about as usual, except with a giant elephant in the room. Some chatter about what happened took place, but the teachers remained calm and didn't give us updates.
I remember feeling like 'my day' had been stolen from me. But what a limited perspective I had as a naive ten year old. While I was pouting over lost attention on my birthday, people were just hoping and praying to hear from their loved ones, workers jumped from buildings to try to survive the smoke and collapsing offices, emergency personnel kissed their loved ones goodbye, some forever, and leaders deliberated action plans.
I've felt the weight of this attack since I was old enough to realize what had actually happened. I remember it affecting me differently each year. I couldn't make sense of it. It wasn't fair. How could people hate so much that they would kill people they didn't even know? How do you right that wrong? Where's the justice? What is the purpose of this war?
I don't have the answers for all such evils. But what I have learned:
Life is short. We are not in control, God is. We live in a broken world. So while the world spews hate or fights for things, fight back with love. Because when our nation was torn and broken, what brought us together and lifted us up were people helping each other. Some helped by donating blood, entering burning buildings, cleaning up rubble, donating clothing, giving up their time, energy, and resources to help find loved ones, praying for and with those affected, and others gave up the most precious thing - his or her life. We were made in the image of God. That image is one of restoration and reconciliation and community. Let's choose to live counter-culturally and be the hands and feet of Jesus in tragedy and in triumph!
---------------
I wrote this poem about the grief of a wife who lost her husband as he fought for our country. It was inspired by a photograph I found many years ago. I don't have a copy of it anymore, but I would imagine that this photo elicits the emotional toll on this woman.
The Last Time I Saw Your Face
By: Jessica Eckert
Date: February 12, 2007
The last time I saw your face,
You were lying next to me.
You were remembering what used to be.
You were rising from the bed.
You rose and shook your head.
The last time I saw your face,
You were answering the phone.
You were packing to go alone.
You were whispering in my ears.
You were drowned in my tears.
You were saying your good-byes.
You were watering at the eyes.
The last time I saw your face,
You were hurrying to catch the plane.
Your were running through the rain.
You were on the T.V. screen.
You were on tank one-eighteen.
The last time we saw your face,
We were all draped in a weeping, black sea.
We were remembering what used to be.
We were saying our good-byes.
We were watering at the eyes.
We were drowned in our tears.
We were remember all the years.
All the years that are now lost,
All the years we’ll never get back,
All the years we never had,
And all the years we’ll lack.
Our love, the one and only.
Our love, we love you dear.
Our love, we’ll always remember
What you did for our country, my dear.
The battles that you fought so bravely.
The days of pain and heartache.
The hours of feeling lonely.
And the minutes of fighting without a break.
You did this for our country.
Without another word.
You gave away a century,
That is what we heard.
To protect the nation you care so much about
Rest in peace, my love, we’ll never forget, have no doubt.
No comments:
Post a Comment