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Here we are on the anniversary of what some call a disaster, and others call a national and international travesty. There are those who are, as I speak, honoring the dead who perished in those horrible moments when the Twin Towers collapsed. Among them are innocents and heroes, along with scoundrels and misfits. Death is no respecter of persons.
I know, the title of this article may seem a little presumptuous, but that is far from my intent. There is no doubt that the events of eight years ago were tragic but seemingly avoidable. It is true that it could have been much worse... but it could have been much better too. We grieved as a nation for those lost loved ones the same way an individual grieves. We went through denial, anger and depression. We lashed out at those responsible, and even those who were only seemingly responsible -- even some innocent bystanders. We did this as a nation. Right or wrong it was a natural process. We have since enacted policy and personal changes to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again. Many internal conflicts have been waged in this country over the right and wrong way to react and prepare. Many external conflicts have been waged in the name of justice. The bottom line is, though, that if you ask just about anyone in America, they will tell you that they feel safer and more secure today than they did eight years ago. Apparently, some of what we have done in reaction has worked. We are more aware and feel more safe and in charge of our national security. But are we?
I remember where I was and what I was doing the moment I heard what was happening. I was carpooling with a buddy, on my way to work in typical Seattle traffic. We turned on the radio and heard the reports that the north tower of the World Trade Center had collapsed and the south tower was being evacuated. We looked at each other in disbelief. As I was listening to the radio trying to get myself to believe and understand what was going on, I was brought back to a dream I had only an hour or two earlier. I was rushing people out of a burning building and hiding behind barriers, only to realize that there were still people in the building. In my dream there seemed to be a calm, during which I went back in to look for people. The images of that dream are still there, but I've puzzled over the meaning or purpose of the dream... if there was any. The bottom line is, though I was on the other side of the country, I felt like I was there.
No work got done that morning. As we watched and listened to the news reports, it became apparent that these were malicious attacks, and no one knew how extensive or widespread the malicious plan was. For all we knew, they could be planning something in our city too. In the days to come, walking the streets of Seattle, we all looked up at every airliner that went by as a potential threat. Ignorance is bliss -- that is, until something unexpected hits with lethal force -- but the known-unknown of impending disaster is maddening.
In the years since, our country has passed laws, instigated military action and opened countless investigations in the name of national security. As individuals, we tend to leave that stuff up to congress, or the president, the FBI, the CIA or whoever. But I believe we have not only the ability to do something ourselves, but a responsibility to do so. Here some of my own thoughts...
We must become aware of our global environment, both visible and invisible, and educate ourselves on the right responses to our changing environment. Reading news reports can be depressing and overwhelming, but learning to cut through what the media wants us to see can be difficult. I rely heavily on divine guidance when I keep up on current events or read books or articles.
We must acknowledge the spiritual element in our own lives and those around us - even those overseas. We may see some of them as enemies, but to ignore their spirituality is to miss the very essence of their motivation to act how they act and do what they do. They are in many ways like us, and in many ways not like us at all.
We need to become who God intended us to be, not simply products of our environment. If we leave everything to chance, we will ultimately and blindly be controlled by those with stronger wills than ours. Often it requires divine guidance to separate what is important from what is simply frivolous. As we seek direction and change for the good, we will affect those around us to do the same.
We must acknowledge people's differences and change ourselves, rather than trying to change them. Forced change at late stages in life is rarely lasting and never positive. Does that mean we try to become like them or stop defending ourselves from attack? Absolutely not. Protect and defend, but set aside arrogance and accept the person. Acceptance does not mean we condone their actions.
We must embrace change, but not just any change, change for the good. I admit this seems a daunting, maybe impossible task when we look at the worlds injustices, but if we start by looking internally instead of externally, we will find that the job is not as overwhelming as it seems. Greed is at the heart of many if not all injustices, but it can only be recognized and addressed through careful reflection and a willingness to sacrifice our own rights for what is best. And what is best? God knows.
As tragic as the events on September 11, 2001 were, they were only a drop in the bucket compared to all of the injustices that have been done in every country from the beginning of time until now. From the beating of a single slave to the extermination of millions of lives in the Holocaust, men have a history of violence and colossal self-aggrandizement. Change starts within, and though it may be invisible at first, it must start somewhere.
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