The bishop of Metro New York Synod at the time of 9/11, and a leader in our church who I profoundly respect, posted this today, and I share it with you: "8:46 tomorrow morning. Take a moment to remember. Say a prayer at the time the first plane hit the WTC in NY and the other tragedies followed. I remember these lines by Maya Angelou written in the aftermath of September 11 as she remembered the many heroes that day... With out their fierce devotion We are fragile and forlorn Stumbling briefly among the stars. We and our futures belong to them Exquisitely,our beliefs and our Breaths are made tangible in their love. Let us remember all the bravery, “exquisitely tangible,” all the public and anonymous heroes, in a time when “serving and giving for others rose above every other concern. Think about all of the giving. Those uniformed and civilian servants who risked their lives for others on September 11, on the flights, in the Pentagon, at Ground Zero in New York; teachers who comforted children and waited till all were safely accounted for (we lost 47 parents of our Lutheran school children that day); pastors and parishes who kept their doors open and sat with the public, listening to their lament for months; those around the world and throughout our church who sent stuffed animals, cards, letters, money, expressions of prayerful compassion, visits; ironworkers, truck drivers, chaplains, counselors, volunteers, all who worked at ground zero, at the morgues, at the site in Staten Island during the long months of rescue, then recovery; military chaplains and those who serve in our armed forces; those who lost loved ones, friends, businesses and worked at the dignity of living every day with sorrow. Walking the streets of Manhattan, going on the subways, a different spirit prevailed. All this heroism and sacrifice and shared sorrow made us open to one another. The open window reminded us that for a time we were one metropolis, not divided by inner citysuburb or race or class; that for a time our synod and national church lived in unity of prayerful purpose, transcending the things which vex us and divide us. We were neighbors, sisters, brothers, friends to one another, almost outside of ourselves and our narrow self interests. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:12-14) At Ground Zero when the remains of a child of God would be found something remarkable would happen. All activity would cease. The pile would gentle down to silence. With bowed, uncovered heads everyone at Ground Zero would show their consummate respect for life as the remains would be lovingly brought out from the rubble. Let us remember, with bowed heads and respectful silence, the heroes, the servants, the extended act of giving which surrounded all of us us. And let our hearts break open to the ground zeros of today... 8:46 tomorrow
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 03:49:27 +0000
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