September 11th

It hardly seems possible that 9/11 happened 18 years ago. What is wild is that Anna and Taylor were not even born then and that 9/11 is a historical event to them like Pearl Harbor was for me growing up.  Most of us can remember in vivid detail where we were and what we were doing that fateful morning when we saw the images of the twin towers crashing down and as stories of horror and of heroism emerged through the day. I spent that morning at my 2nd grade classroom at Thorndyke Elementary trying to help my 7-8 year olds make sense of what we had all witnessed on TV, and I remember it was so surreal as we sat in a circle to share together in our morning meeting about the shock and grief of what was before us.  Now these little people are in their mid-twenties, and that day must seem like a lifetime ago to them. 

It's important to take time to remember and reflect on days like today-- and to continue to listen and learn and share with one another...

“Let us vow to transform our world by transforming ourselves.”- from the Huffington Post 

Prayer below from Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago:

"This date, 9-11, carries a heavy burden of memory. 

This day does not pass in the calendar without our remembering.

We remember images of death and destruction. Images that human eyes were never meant to see.  We remember words our ears were never meant to hear, the tender last words of husbands and wives who would never embrace again.

We imagine the feeling of emptiness in the arms of children who at the end of the day could not find mom or dad for their welcome home hug. We remember our own feelings of emptiness as our sense of security, as our own confidence in the predictable order of life and work was radically shaken.

This date, 9-11, carries a heavy burden of memory. 

We remember the heroism of the many that lost their lives in saving others. We remember all those who suffered and died, we grieve for them still, friends and strangers alike, along with their families and friends.

This date, 9-11, carries a heavy burden of memory.

And it is right that it should not pass from our memory. But today and in this prayer, along with our remembrance of profound loss, it also seems right that we give voice to our deep longing for peace, and with this prayer, commit ourselves to those actions that will draw us closer to our most ancient and most holy desire, peace among all God’s children.

Dona nobis pacem.

Lord, grant us peace.  Amen."