Under Attack

Tomorrow is September the 11th.  I remember that day 14 years ago as our neighbor told us we were under attack.  We were not TV watchers in the morning and didn't normally turn on the TV but we did that day.  One of the twin towers in New York City had been struck by a plane.  It didn't even seem real.  We were glued to the TV and then to our horror we watched as another plane crashed into the other tower.  It was heart wrenching and we had no words.  Watching people stuck in the buildings begin to jump to their deaths, that was hard to see and then one of the towers collapsed.  What was going on?  Not long after the other tower collapsed.  The scene was one of devastation. Our hearts were filled with sadness for our countrymen.  After a time I went in to work.  We didn't do much that day.  We sat in the office and listened to the radio for any updates on what was happening.  It was indeed a somber day.

I visited with some friends today at the Brick House, Dan and Viv Boyle.  We talked for just a moment about where we were that day and so it has been on my mind today.  I also saw pictures posted on facebook and looked at scenes from New York.  It also brought back thoughts and feelings.

We came to know that day that we were Americans through and through. Suddenly differences in political parties or religions or race didn't matter a whole lot. What mattered is that we were Americans, that we had been hurt and that we would recover. Together we mourned the loss of the victims and of the brave men and women who went in and tried to save them. As a Nation we were brought to our knees and in humility we found comfort, we found unity, we found love.

Things have changed a lot since then. Political and social divides are as wide as ever now. There isn't a lot of tolerance for one another, not a lot of patience or respect for others whose viewpoints differ from your own.  We still cite in the pledge that we are 'One Nation Under God'.  Sometimes it is hard to feel that. 14 years ago we knew very clearly what it meant, we lived it and we certainly felt it.  Today our way of life is still under attack. Perhaps tomorrow we can pause and reflect on that day 14 years ago a maybe we can remember what it was like to be a nation united and filled with love for our fellow man.  Maybe we can let go of the things that divide us and look to the things that unite us.