Remember
Stop.
Take a deep breath. As you breathe in say, “Your grace fills me.” As you breathe out say, “I share your mercy.” Repeat as many times as you need.
Listen.
Father, forgive.
Father, forgive the hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class.
Father, forgive our envy of the welfare and happiness of others.
Father, forgive the pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God.
Father, forgive. Father, forgive.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. Amen.
- Litany from “9/11”, written by Gabe Huck, music by Gregg Smith, commissioned by Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church, New York City, first performed on September 8, 2002
Reflect.
For generations of Americans, this day carries memories of fear, panic, and loss. Twenty years later, many Americans can remember exactly where they were and exactly what was happening when they heard the news of the day’s terrorist attacks, especially those horrifying images of the World Trade Center.
For many other Americans, there is no real-time memory of this event. They’ve heard about it in history books or from family members, but they were too old to remember the event – or they weren’t even born then. Instead, they’ve seen the continuing effects of that day: America’s longest war, innumerable veterans dying by suicide, and political instability at home and abroad.
Whoever you are, whatever you remember (or never knew) about this day, it will be marked in many ways throughout the country. The stories will be inescapable, and so will the opinions about what it means or what we should think.
It is my prayer that today you can hold tightly to the promises of our faith. We have a God who knows suffering and pain. We have a God who extends mercy to even the unrighteous. We have a God whose gift of grace makes us able to share compassion with others. We do not need to meet evil with rage, or aggression with attack, or judgement with superiority. We can choose love because our God has called it from us.
May that same love hold you today, no matter what the day and its news brings.
Pray.
God our creator, through whose providing care we enjoy all goodness and life, turn our eyes to your mercy in this time of confusion and loss. Comfort this nation as we mourn; shine your light on those whose only companion is darkness; and teach us all so to number our days that we may apply our hearts to your wisdom; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (From Evangelical Lutheran Worship)
Carry On.
Try to manage your media consumption today. Can you set aside your phone, go for a walk, meet outdoors with friends, or find other ways not to get consumed by the relived trauma of the day? How can you respect and mark the day without it overwhelming you?