It is hard to believe that seven short years have passed since the horrific events of 9/11. I was attending a seminary class in Holland, Michigan when the first plane struck the North Tower at 8:45 AM. Just as the second plane flew into the South Tower at 9:03 AM, I and the other students, oblivious to what was happening in Manhattan, were preparing our hearts for chapel.

After chapel, several of us had gathered for coffee in the commons area when someone yelled, “A couple of planes flew into the World Trade Center!” A few minutes later another student announced that a plane flew into the Pentagon. Several people started to cry. Others were in shock and remained expressionless. Although I was unsure how to react, I remember feeling both sadness and fear wash over me. During the days that followed that sadness and fear lingered as well as a very unfamiliar but justified feeling that we were no longer safe living in America.

Since moving to Manhattan only a month ago, I have met many people whose lives were dramatically altered on that dreadful day. Their stories are tragic, breathtaking, and moving. What surprises me and inspires me is the fact that many of them hold fast to an unwavering hope even as they remember those whose lives were so violently taken.

A friend recently shared with me a prayer from a Jewish devotional book titled, Gates of Prayer. I love that title because it reminds me of the Rabbinic dictum that the gates of prayer are never barred. In the section Yom Tov, meaning “a good and holy day,” there is a prayer of remembrance that reads as follows:

In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

Seven years later so many of us still wrestle with residual grief, fear, and anger from that terrifying morning. We have all been affected by the events of 9/11/01. We all remember. As I recall that day and the lives that were celebrated in this week’s ceremony, I also remember the words of Jesus to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me…” (John 14:1). I hope these words will help you to turn your doubts and fears over to God as we remember each other and our loved ones.

Your comments are welcome. I would enjoy hearing your story about where you were on 9/11/01, how the events impacted your life, and what gives you hope for the future.