We should always remember 9-11, and the way there was love.
After midnight on 9-11, as it turned to the 12th, my birthday, I wrote this as I watched the news.
For me, that night, it was all about the numbers.
A handful of airline passengers, after learning of the Trade Center attack, voting, and then sacrificing their lives to prevent another disaster. No greater love has a person than to lay down their life for another.
Hundreds of New Yorkers, every day, creating a gauntlet of support, lining a street exiting ground zero. They stand from pre dawn until well after midnight, to cheer and thank every single emergency worker who exits. Who says this is a mean and cold city?
Thousands of Teddy Bears sent from the school children of Oklahoma City to the children of New York City. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
A million American flags sold at Target and Wal-Mart in just 48 hours. Our color, class, or race may be different but we are all American and our flag still means something.
Thousands of FBI and CIA agents assigned to the largest dragnet in the history of the world – they will identify – and then we will bring to justice – the cowardly criminals who planned this attack. More than just cursing the darkness, they are lighting candles in the dark.
Hundreds of firefighters and police officers entering the Towers as thousands of the petrified residents were rushing out – they saved more lives than any rescue effort in the world to date. Yet, nearly all of those incredibly courageous rescuers exchanged their lives for the innocents they saved. Where would we be without those who have sworn to protect and serve?
In considering the numbers of September 11th, the last number to consider is the number one; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
♥✞ღ
And today I write this…
here’s the thing.
For a while…
we loved.
The night of September 11th I remember everyone racing to fill up cars with gas – and gas containers. Long lines, nervous people, but waving others before them – they were patient, and kind, and not rude or self-serving or quick tempered.
I remember people being not “inflated” proud, but “united” proud to be American.
I remember France waking up momentarily…
not being jealous…
and not rejoicing in wrongdoing…
and the Le Monde headline, “We Are All American”.
We didn’t brood about the injury…
our government made decisive moves and protected…
and we were set to endure…
and faith had a renaissance.
I remember family suddenly becoming important…
and rightful respect given to the military and firefighters and police…
we “rejoiced with the truth”.
I remember people bearing each other’s burdens…
for a while…
for just a while,
the country…
loved.
So I say…
let’s not commemorate…
let’s just remember who we became…
before we went back to being “normal”.
and if you liked this at all,
or if you think others might find it useful,
would you consider sharing it in one of the ways below?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Love is what happened in the wake of 9/11. It was so incredible to witness the way we took care of each other…and the way we filled the churches. I pray we someday learn to keep that going all the time in the ordinary days.
Thanks for visiting me earlier. Your comments are always a blessing and as for sticking around…you’re welcome. I lift y
we were all so much better in the days following 9/11 – we were at our best. And we’re humans so we can’t stay that way all the time – at least not now – Someday…
Anyway, sorry for the late reply – things in the brain are still a little out of place – and thank you, thank you very much Stacy, and God bless and keep you.
I lift you up in prayer often. 🙂
*Sorry…hit some key I didn’t mean to hit. LOL
(◔‿◔)
Craig, thank you for this memorial reminder, and Happy Birthday!!!!
thank you A – and the a double thank you for the happy birthday (◔‿◔) God bless and keep you!
Pretty sad statement, isn’t it…
it is sad – but it’s also good to know that we’re capable of this. I fail in love so often, so completely, so thoroughly, but it’s nice to know that I can do it – that we all can do it – but it goes against every grain of our imperfect nature – more of God – less of us – more love – less “normal”. Thank you Caddo, sorry for the late response, this brain of mine is still NOT quite back together yet – sorry – and God bless and keep you my friend.
This is what 911 should become. Not a time of commemoration, but a time of restoration. You said it so well:
let’s not commemorate…
remember who we became…
before we went back to being “normal”.
We must not be normal for these are not normal times. We must be extraordinary!
we’re humans – we need occasions – occasions to rise to – occasions to remember – and for me 9/11 is one of those occasions – we all rose to meet the moment. So I think it would really be a nice “commemoration” of the day for us to remember to love better. Just sayin’ (◔‿◔) – anyway, thank you Dawn, and God bless and keep you my friend – and the muttlies,
I loved this so much I posted my own page about what you gave me through it. If you want to check it out, go to
http://dschondog.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/proper-commemoration/
Thanks again!
I love this post Craig. This is a true memorial of what happened due to 9/11 – the way we became a little more like love to one another.
Katie, the best thing to take from 9/11 is love – the bravery of the ones who went into those buildings – the way we treated each other – the way came together – in a time of crisis people either tear each other apart or bring each other together – we did well. God bless you Katie, and thank you as always.
Love this particular post, Craig. Thank you for beautiful words to remind us . I have little time, these days, for surfing but when I find that precious minute, I always stop by here and, always, you fill me up. Just want you to know I’ve still got your back in praying for you and that I DO stop by when I can and that each time your words encourage and boost me. Thank you !!!!
Liz, thank you so much. Your words mean a lot to me. And thank you for your prayers – they also means much. I love when you come by – I appreciate everything you do – so thank you, really, thank you from my heart. God bless and keep you Liz.
Hey there Craig…I only just saw this (been so busy lately, need to catch up on my reading) This was absolutely beautiful. It always amazes me that (though there are a minority who do the opposite) in times of crisis the God in us seems to rise up and who we are meant to be comes to the surface. We recently had flooding in our area after the tail of Isaac passed us and we experienced the same thing…people coming out in their numbers to shovel mud and help complete strangers. It makes the heart so full!
On another note…Happy Belated Birthday! Mine was on Friday so we share the same birth month. Hope it was special.
I’m off to do some more catch up reading…God bless!
Lisa Maria – happy birthday to you as well. And it really was the thing that struck me most after 9/11 – how everybody came together – just as you’ve experienced – I’ve seen it recently and the violent storms that destroyed so much of what I have – and I’ve seen it in great floods – and I saw on 9/11 and for a short time after that – and I just think this – that the best of what we saw then – it might very well be the least of what we see when we live forever with our Lord. Happy birthday again – and God bless and keep you my friend.
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