A Reflection by Rev. Reebee Girash on September 11
25 years ago today, in the morning, I was… 25 years ago today, in the morning, I felt…
Any of us who are older than 30 can probably fill in those blanks. We were at work, or on campus, or on the way somewhere when we began to hear alerts. We scrambled to a landline phone to find our loved ones. We felt afraid, shocked, confused. Over the hours, we added feelings: anger, grief, determination to help. 9/11 was for many of us a before/after day.
This anniversary, I invite you to remember where you were and how you felt, and how your feelings evolved. I invite you to remember those deeply impacted by 9/11 and say a prayer for those lost. I invite you to acknowledge the grief you may still feel.
This week we’ve learned that many more died from chemical exposure in the years that followed – pray for them as well. Remember, also, the first responders and ordinary folks who ran toward danger to help their neighbors, and those who opened their homes to strangers suddenly displaced. Pray for the lives lost in war and conflict that followed 9/11. And most especially, pray for peace. We have needed peace since the beginning of human history, and we still need peace.
Holy God, Creator of all people, bring your peace to this world. Amen.
