The Destruction of the World Trade Center September 11th, Two Thousand and One Margaret Marie Lomio Copyright September 2001
This Morning Many of us forgot (or didn't have time) to kiss our families goodbye. Many of us had an argument about something very insignificant. Many of us abruptly and harshly told a child no.
This morning, all over the country, we approached our day, Thinking we could make up for any morning shortcomings When we arrived in the evening to our home.
Instead, we watched in horror to see Washington's Pentagon And New York City's Twin Towers crumble away Taking with it our loved ones - our families, our friends, our sense of security.
And in the moments after, We saw the face of God.
In the volunteers standing in line for hours on end So that the blood from their bodies may be drained To pour into the bodies of others;
In the eyes of the child, too small to ascertain, waving the American flag As she is perched (safely?) atop her father's shoulders;
In the tears of the old-time vet who all too well remembers.
This morning, uniformed workers of all kinds re-dedicated themselves to their jobs, Never realizing that today was the day that the cost of their commitment would be their lives.
Again, we saw the face of God.
In the rescuers, the men and women rushing into chaos, Because there was a chance a life could be saved and this is what they promised to do;
In these steadfast souls who refused to submit to their own fear, exhaustion, and devastation.
May we not wait for the moment of catastrophe to call forth this absolute best in ourselves. Let us freely offer it Again and again and again. One for the other. This and every morning.
Let us hope we are not soon called again to this place of devastation. Let us remember what we were willing to do when another life cried out to us for relief. Let us not forget what we must do to stand United in these States of America.
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