Maybe it was the sunlight. Maybe it was the angle. Or maybe it was just as we saw it… the cross. We spotted it there in the somber place where terrorism infiltrated our safe space and our daily lives. Where devastation once resided, now stood a sign of the American spirit. Somewhat of a “middle finger” to those whom had taken so much from us had emerged.

If you have never made the trip to the site of the Twin Towers, I recommend that you do. There is an ominous vibe overshadowed by the familiar hustle and bustle which New Yorkers call normalcy. It is quiet, yet loud… just the way the city begs to exist. The 9/11 Memorial Museum will infiltrate your soul as you walk where souls once existed. It will touch your conscience and make you take stock. It is an absolute must in your lifetime, both as a person and as an American.

As I write this, we are on the verge of September 11th, 2020. This year so far has been a piece of s#!+, to put it mildly. So, it begs my thoughts to wonder how this relevant day in our nation’s history will fit in among the current terror that has enveloped our society.

Yep, I said it: TERROR. Terrorists changed the course of our country in one single moment. If you existed on September 11th, 2001 I bet you remember exactly where you were. I fathom that you recall exactly what you were doing when you heard the news or, worse, saw it firsthand.

Do you remember the stories of bravery? Of risking and losing one’s life to save another? Fire houses and police stations were never the same in NYC. Loss was everywhere, yet they still searched.

The terrorists took away our sense of safety in one second. They took the comfort out of the mundane of simply going to work, or traveling on an airplane, or walking down the street. They walked in our footsteps. They lived as us. They convinced us that they were “normal” Americans.

Once the dust settled, we had a President who stood in the ashes beneath an American flag; which would later become one of the most iconic photos of all time. He spoke words through a megaphone that rang out through every single news outlet all over the country. He uttered uplifting messages of resilience. He promised justice. And we listened. We rose cautiously from fear to cohesion as Americans.

Fast forward to this year. Stop in your tracks tomorrow and think of the people who lost the most that morning in September. And let your next thought be of the current day…

Again, a terrorist has infiltrated our country. Think about that.

This time, the terrorist is not a person.

It is a pandemic…

it is politics…

it is racism…

it is rioting…

and it is us.

We have infiltrated ourselves. WTF, people?!

We have lost what the weeks after 9/11 gave us. We have divided ourselves into two races, when so many more exist. We have blamed those who are left to make leadership decisions for us. We have seen each other through critical eyes, as if WE are the judgement. We have polarized opinions, when they do not merge with our own. We call 911 for help, yet we hate on the the ones we call. We are living in fear of a worldwide virus which leaves us without a path. We are broken, people; and we are mean.

At the risk of sounding too preachy, I employ you people. Get your heads out of your @$$es. Let curiosity be filled with knowledge, not hate. Lord knows that I have had to do some serious self-reflecting. I have listened to those who oppose my views. Sometimes it turns out amazing, and we both walk away wiser and more compassionate towards the other. Other times, people cannot agree to disagree and instead resort to passive aggressive name calling (thank you social media).

So, it’s up to us. Shall we remain so arrogant to think that our affiliations are correct and others are incorrect? Shall we abuse our “freedoms” as a weapon against those with differing views? Shall we be SO without manners that we verbally abuse our fellow citizens and even our President? Shall we light fires?

Yes, we should light fires… we should light them under the @$$es of ourselves and our human race. Refamiliarize yourself with compassion. Renew respect. Shut your mouth.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Amen.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only you do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Galatians 5:13

#holykitt#blogginforchrist#amen#jesus#wtfmeanswhythyfather#september11th#thankyouforyourservice#twintowers#oneworldtrade#memorial#notforgotten#galatians