Monday, September 12, 2011
Remembering with Hope
2:03 PM | Posted by
Heidi-rose |
It’s still fresh in my memory. Like those who were old enough to understand when Pearl Harbor was attacked, I will always remember where I was when I first heard the terrible report. I was listening to NPR on my way to work and assumed the newscaster was talking about a plane crash. It wasn’t until I came inside and saw everyone huddled tensely around a TV set in the break room that I began to understand the enormity of what had happened. As the day wore on, regulars who usually chatted amiably as they paid for their groceries wandered down aisles with tear-stained faces and embraced each other in grief and consolation.
During the same morning hours, my sister-in-law was giving birth to her child in a San Francisco hospital. I can only imagine the emotions that must have warred in her as she held her little girl Sage in her arms. Stunned sorrow conflicted with the joy, hope and amazement of witnessing new life.
What stands out today is that hope was born in the midst of chaos and great loss, and our nation came together as one to comfort and lift each other up. As triumphant structures are erected at the site of Ground Zero, my hope is that we honor those who were lost and those who
sacrificed their health and safety to save others that day. The best way I can think of to do that in my own family is to continue to break the barriers of interpersonal discord by recognizing the common ground we all share as part of this nation and world. If we reach out, lift up, and carry one another’s burdens, we will have continued the legacy of those strong people who refused to let the events of 9/11 defeat them.
During the same morning hours, my sister-in-law was giving birth to her child in a San Francisco hospital. I can only imagine the emotions that must have warred in her as she held her little girl Sage in her arms. Stunned sorrow conflicted with the joy, hope and amazement of witnessing new life.
What stands out today is that hope was born in the midst of chaos and great loss, and our nation came together as one to comfort and lift each other up. As triumphant structures are erected at the site of Ground Zero, my hope is that we honor those who were lost and those who
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| Photo Credit: Beverly & Pack |
Labels:
Loss and Support
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