This Day

We all have our stories on where we were when we heard about the planes hitting the World Trade Center, and the plane going into the Pentagon building, and another one downed into a field in Pennsylvania.   On THIS DAY we tend to want to talk about it and remember how frightened we all were.  How unbelievable that such a horrible attack happened here in the United States!   It was a day no one who lived through it will ever forget.

Live television coverage brought it into our homes.  We ‘lived’ it as it happened.   We saw the horror in living color.  There was panic and fear – followed by immense sadness.  Then there was a rise of patriotism and many who felt so helpless decided to join the military.

For this generation it was a wake up call.

Each year now when this day comes around I feel very conflicted.   Obviously I remember all those innocent people who died and the bravery of the first responders. I lived in New Jersey at the time so I was close by, and I saw the lingering smoke from NYC for days. I saw signs posted on fire stations of loved ones looking for the missing.   I read obituary after obituary in our state newspaper.

But I also think about how in this world, all over this world, hatred brings unthinkable grief to people every.single.day.   War is going on somewhere on THIS DAY.    On this day – and it will happen tomorrow, and the next day.   We live in a really sinful world.   Everywhere on this earth there are bad people, doing bad things.  Every day innocent people are shot and killed.  They are parents’ children.  Or grandchildren.  They are someone’s loved ones.     War.  Terrorism.  Mass shootings.  Driveby shootings.   Every day.

On THIS particular DAY 18 years ago it was a group who planned, trained, and accomplished an unthinkable act.   We as a country felt the pain – the same pain that some feel every day when hate rears its ugly head.   Throughout history we can point to time and time again of it.   Most recently though it has been done by domestic terrorists who shoot innocent people in public places.   Mass shootings.

I know it’s certainly right to acknowledge THIS DAY and to thank the first responders and to comfort the families.  To remember the innocent who died.   I know it’s okay to enjoy a bit of patriotism today.   But I admit my heart is torn over it.      I read a post earlier this morning from a mom who may have said it right:  life is uncertain and none of us know what the day will bring, so hug your kids as you send them off to school.   Do something good and helpful.  Always remember that THIS DAY is what you’ve got.