What a beautiful day this September 11th is. The sunshine is absolutely beautiful- blue skies with nary a cloud in sight. Temperatures in the mid-Seventies- the kind of day that I love so much. On days like today, it is easy to thank God for the beautiful world that has been given to us to live in. How ironic that on this day 14 years ago, on a carbon copy weather-type day such as this one, the beauty of that day was completely shattered by the violence and hatred of humanity against itself. Who can forget thehorror of that day?
This week, I found myself in New York City helping my son and his family move into their new digs. As I entered his apartment for the first time, I was blown away by the view that greeted me. Nine foot floor to ceiling glass windows gave way to an unimpeded view (see above) of the sparkling new Freedom Tower rising above Ground Zero only three short blocks away! It was almost too overwhelming to behold! I found myself strangely attracted to the view, yet needing to close my eyes or just look away to get back to a sense of my own self in the midst of that very BIG place.
In the evening, as I readied my bed which looked out over that view, the very last thing I saw as I closed my eyes was the Freedom Tower. As I awoke in the morning, the very first thing I saw was the Freedom Tower. As we spent some free moments together, we walked next to the Freedom Tower on the way to the 9/11 Memorial.
Michael Arad, the architect who designed the 9/11 Memorial challenged himself to “create a moment of silence” in the design and build out of that space. I believe that he was wildly successful in doing just that. I would go on to say that this place is sacred ground. As I stood in that place where the water falls into the original footprints of the towers, surrounded by beautiful trees and people from all races and stations and religions from all around the world, all taking it in, I wondered. Can a place where such
horrific bloodshed, death, and destruction took place be the place where a new peace is born as people from around the world come and visit this living “moment of silence?”
horrific bloodshed, death, and destruction took place be the place where a new peace is born as people from around the world come and visit this living “moment of silence?”
Oh donʼt we long for the day when justice shall roll like the waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream (Amos 5:24) When nation shall not lift sword against nation neither shall they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:4). Maybe, just maybe . . .