Naturally, the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this historical tragedy may be overwhelmed with feelings of sadness as they remember their loved one on this milestone anniversary. There will be plenty of coverage in the media with pictures, audio recordings of messages loved ones sent before their death, and interviews of people who either survived the event or lost someone in the event. While all of this is newsworthy and reminds us of the brave souls who lost their lives, we also need to be aware that it brings forth feelings of tremendous sadness for those left behind. One thing that I have learned about loss is this… “You never forget.” Nor should you. These families will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they received the news. Don't assume that because ten years have passed that their pain is gone and their hearts have healed. Grieving is a process not an event and it can take a long time to work through, even years. Events such as 9/11 do not fade into the background... the world remembers and so do the families.
All over the globe, people will find ways to honor these heroes this weekend. I will light a candle to pay tribute to my American neighbours and I will be explaining it to my grandsons so they understand. For those living in the Seattle area, listen to 100.7 FM The Wolf, for updates on their efforts to bring together a crowd of people to release 3,000 red, white and blue balloons on Sunday. Is all of this crazy? Should we not bother to make a huge production of something that happened so long ago? All that I can say is… follow your heart. If it makes sense to you… if it comforts you… if it releases feelings of sadness and sorrow, then do it.
Although you may not have known anyone directly involved in 9/11, don’t be alarmed that you too may be overwhelmed with feelings of grief as you remember the events of the day. I knew one person living in New York City (Michael Warner) at the time and he was across the street when this attack happened. I have never forgotten how relieved those who know him were to find out that he was safe. And I remember how our hearts broke for those who died and for their families who were left behind. I still get choked up about it. Is this crazy? To have feelings about people that you never met or will never meet? No. It’s called compassion, empathy, and ‘having a heart’… it’s loving your fellow man.
Personally, I think everyone should take time to pause this Sunday to remember the innocent who died in this tragedy. And when we do, we can also remember others who have experienced the pain of losing a loved one and do what we can to be gentle, kind, and loving to everyone we encounter. Appreciating our loved ones, taking time to serve, honoring our seniors, helping the homeless, giving thanks for what we have, and remembering that life can turn on a time and should not be taken for granted is probably the greatest tribute we can pay to the families and loved ones of 9/11.
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