An Empowered Spirit Blog Post

September 11 And Prayers For A Better World

By Cathy Chester on September 8, 2014

For thirteen years Americans have mourned and paid tribute to the tragic and senseless loss of lives that happened on our soil in the bright, cloudless skies on September 11, 2001.  We've heard countless stories emerge about family and friends who perished that day. Every year we exchange details about where we were when we first learned of the shocking news that, at first, seemed like a piece of science fiction.

September 11

The Morris County 9/11 Living Memorial: Plaques with the 64 Morris County residents and the names of all the victims are displayed at the site.

Last night our community gathered for a candlelight vigil and service to pay tribute to the 64 victims we lost from Morris County, New Jersey on September 11. Held before the county's 9/11 Living Memorial built from 3 steel sections from The World Trade Center, pieces of United Flight #93 and surrounded by soil from The Pentagon,we joined together in solidarity as American citizens, and as residents of New Jersey mourning those we lost.

September 11

The 9/11 Living Memorial: This memorial is comprised of three steel sections from the World Trade Center, pieces of United Flight #93, and soil from the Pentagon. The concrete blocks at the base of the steel represent the foundations of our lives: family, relationships and community.

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I pulled my son out of school because forty miles away our beloved Manhattan was under attack. Like many other moms standing in line, we wanted our children with us because we simply didn't know what, if anything, might happen next.

Sitting at last night's candlelight vigil with my adult son sitting beside me, these thoughts came flooding back. Our world, and his, were forever changed.

September 11

Bless You, America: The flag against the beauty of the night sky

With September 11 looming and the heinous and violent acts occurring around the world, we are reminded of the fragility of life, the importance of kindness, tolerance and compassion, and the responsibility we have to help one another as best as we can.

September 11

A lone bagpipe played while local police and EMS workers marched past us to begin the ceremony

My wish for you and your loved ones is for a world where peaceful coexistence is not only possible but is the norm, where goodness overcomes evil, and that all of our lives are blessed with joy and good health.

Author

Cathy Chester

Comments

  1. I work with traumatized people on a daily basis. What occurred on 9/11 was a trauma for all of us and a reminder that it is not a safe world. This truth has been emphasized when watching recent news. It is important that we never forget and the ceremony you talk about is a testament to this.

  2. It is so tough when what we believed unthinkable happens...sobering, humbling,sickening, maddening, and baffling all at the same time. Makes us shake our heads and wonder where is the "goodness"....

    I love and work to share your message of peace, co-existence, and understanding.

  3. I remember going to my daughter's school, though I didn't take her out. I brought food for the teachers so they could stay in the teacher's room and watch the news...and then I went to three different churches that day. And then we waited to hear from our friends in NY...Yes, I remember.

  4. Amen, Cathy. I know that for the rest of my life September 11 will be a day of mourning and reflection. I knew someone working at Cantor Fitzgerald who perished that day.

  5. There will be peace one day, in the mean time if the only person I ever knew was you, I would think that time had already come. There are an amazing amount of good, kind people. I will never understand evil, but I am not supposed to. However I do understand kindness, and loving people.

  6. May the world never forget and never repeat this horrible tragedy. Prayers and thoughts to all who were affected by that surreal day - hard to believe - thirteen years ago.

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