I’ve thought a lot about what people felt as they experienced the 10-year anniversary events related to the tragedy of 9/11. For many people, it was a reminder of the deep anger, trauma, and loss they experienced on September 11, 2001. It was like having to relive the pain of that terrible day. I also know that for many others it was a time of healing, of moving forward into a new landscape – possibly away from some of the sorrow and hurts.

I’m very blessed to be a member of the Congregation that worships at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. On the day of the anniversary, the Cathedral held some special ecumenical, interfaith, inclusive services that were very sacred and healing. At one point the Dean of the Cathedral read a bidding prayer. I’m including part of that prayer here:

‘We come together in the spirit of peace and reconciliation as we have marked the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the United States. We seek to understand things that are not easily understood: violence, political and religious extremism, and crimes against humanity. We want to renew Your call to us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and to forgive as we have been forgiven. As citizens of this great country, may we remember that we are a divinely inspired diversity of peoples, cultures, religions. We have been a place that welcomed the stranger. Where our common humanity unites us, may our collective energy, wisdom, and ingenuity inspire a vision of a country where no one is left out and where all are supported in their daily life. We have experienced our vulnerabilities. We seek now to be renewed and to remember to be compassionate, peace-giving visionaries. And as we pray for peace, for reconciliation among peoples and for an end of war and violence, inspire our imaginations to seek true solutions to our differences and conflicts. We pray this in a spirit of hope and promise.’

Finally, the words of Martin Luther King as he addressed clergy and laypeople in 1967 speak to us today: We need a call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class, nation. It is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all people. It is an absolute necessity for the survival of humankind. When I speak of love . . . it is beautifully summed up in the first epistle of Saint John: ‘Let us love one another, for love is God. And every one that loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not knows not God, for God is love. . . . If we love one another, God dwells in us and his love is perfected in us.’ Let us hope that this spirit will become the order of the day.

So as the memory of the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 begins to fade, let us hope that the spirit of love will truly become the order of our days.

Beloved God, thank you for loving us. Help us learn to be more compassionate and forgiving. May we love one another so that You will dwell in us and Your love can be perfected in us. May Your spirit of love be the order of our days – always. Amen. 

Joy Carol

www.joycarol.com