Simple is Better: Lessons from 9.11 25 Years Later

1 Corinthians 1:10 – I urge you, my brothers and sisters, for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree to live in unity with one another and put to rest any division that attempts to tear you apart. Be restored as one united body living in perfect harmony. Form a consistent choreography among yourselves, having a common perspective with shared values.

Yesterday morning, Hubby Rick and I watched a bit of the 25th remembrances of 9/11. As we did, the feelings from 25 years ago bubbled up. I remembered where I was when I first heard about a plane crashing into the first Twin Tower.

It was a Tuesday morning and I was attending seminary at the time. For some unknown reason, I turned on the television that morning. This was not something I usually did. For some reason, I did that morning. I watched in horror as a plane flew right into one of the towers.

At 9:30 AM, a regular chapel service was held for seminary students and staff. During the time I walked to attend the chapel service, the second plane flew into the second Twin Tower. As I walked into the building for chapel, someone wheeled a television into the chapel sanctuary. We sat together, listening and watching the events unfold in real time as people launched themselves from the towers. As the towers crumbled. As thousands of people found themselves physically affected by events no one really understood.

None of us had adequate words. Reports of another plane attaching the Pentagon and we remained speechless. When a third plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, it didn’t make sense until it came out that people on this plane took action to avoid more people being killed in another crashed building.

It was a terrible and awful day. We watched TV and witnessed the awful pictures . We heard the heart-wrenching stories. We closed our eyes and shook our heads and wondered how this could have happened in the United States of America.

But then, 9.12.21 happened. Our entire country shifted. We called our loved ones and made sure they were safe. We slowed down and hugged each other. We listened, really listened to each other. We expressed compassion towards those who lost loved ones, even when we did not know them.

For those who could not travel and were stuck in a location other than home, we felt compassion for them. We provided places to stay and food to eat and a place to shower. We stopped by our neighbors and checked in on people who we often feel we do not have time to see. We scoured the internet and read stories that turned our hearts upside down a million different ways. We filled churches and synagogues and stadiums and prayed and pleaded with God to grant us a sense of peace. We extended free grace to strangers and people we don’t really like because, well, just because.

As awful of the day 9.11 was, 9.12 redeemed it. We were patient and kind with each other. We waited for the other person to go first at a four-way stop and did not mind when it took an extra 10 seconds. We made sure first responders and fire fighters and EMTs and health care providers knew we appreciated the risks they took. We sent them boxes of pizza and jugs of water. We pulled together in this most awful time. We committed to remember the lessons that stared us in the face. Ones we felt first-hand, if even from afar.

Then, life happened. Time passed. We looked 9.11.2001 in the rearview mirror. The lessons we committed to keep close to our hearts and minds slipped away. The tight-knit feeling we felt severed when we did not agree on something. The focus became more on where we don’t agree than where we do. Twenty-five years later, we have given permission to only treat well those we agree with. To only call those who align with our beliefs as patriots. To accept poor behavior from leaders as they justify their actions. Lying is acceptable. Corruption accepted. The United States and world has become ridiculously divided as we turn long-standing friendships and alliances into throw away relationships.

Yesterday, we remembered 9.11 and what happened that day. Yet, the promises we made to ourselves and each other on 9.12 have slipped away.

Yes, we must remember 9.11 and the people who sacrificed their lives that day. We honor this day with memorials and services and reading of names. We pull up old photos and stories and commit to remain unified. We are compassionate towards the families who lost loved ones and still struggle with grief. The generations born after 2001 that only hear about this event because we continue to retell the stories and experiences.

Twenty-five years ago, it was so serious. We knew that we were living during a watershed moment of American history that we would not ever forget.

Until we did.

Yes, we remember the day and the events and the feelings we experienced. But we have forgotten what happened on 9.12. The day we committed to stay in touch better, check in with loved ones far away and be united as a country. It’s the day we were confident that our lives would be forever changed forever. How our day-to-day existence would be different because of what happened on 9.11.

On this 25th anniversary, the irony is not lost on me that the United States is living through another crisis. This time around our country and the world are divided for other reasons. Too many assume our viewpoint is right and best and forget to listen to anyone with an alternative vantage point. We fail to be kind and patient with each other and set aside personal beliefs for the greater good. We stopped looking for what holds us together and focus only on what draws us apart.

Can we go back to 9.12.01 and remember the feelings we swore we would never forget? Can we choose to love our neighbor every day, especially on the days we do not agree? Can we think of others first and ourselves second? Can we embody the emotions and feelings that took root in our lives and we promised to keep? May we choose more grace with each other, less division and choose to see where we can agree more than disagree?

Let’s remember those things we promised to live and have somehow forgotten. May we turn to You, O God, and find ways to have more unity today. Tomorrow. Every day going forward.

Blessings –

Dianne

Almighty God – Please be with those families who continue to struggle with 9.11. May they find strength in You. Bring them comfort. Help us to rediscover, live and prioritize those lessons we embraced 25 years ago. Amen.