From online friend and United Methodist colleague Sara Wastella —-

Every year on September 11th, I remember what a horrible day it was in 2001. I don’t remember it because of the news coverage. I remember it because it was personal.

My father was working in the Pentagon, and the nose of the plane went through his office. He was in the next wedge over in a conference room, and so he lived. But he was missing for over five hours. My father has been disabled since I was six, and my family feared he might not have been able to get out. Two of his office mates did not make it.

My son’s great uncle, Joey, was a detective with the NYPD and accompanied Mayor Giuliani to the collapsed towers and started selflessly pulling survivors from the rubble. He would be killed by these acts of kindness after developing 9-11 cancer and is memorialized on the wall remembering the victims. He left behind three amazing children and a large extended family that loved him dearly.

I know my son will never understand what that day was like. He just cannot fathom that kind of fear and terror. I hope he never has to either. I pray there is never another day where nineteen people plan and execute terrorism that kills over two thousand people. The hatred that fueled that day just breaks my heart.

This is why Christianity matters. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we know, love, and serve the Prince of Peace. Hatred and violence have no place in the church and they should have no place in the Body of Christ. We need to let go of anger before it devolves into wrath and destroys us and others as it did on September 11th. We need to find a better, holier way to live in harmony with others who are not just like us in belief, culture, and identity. We must teach our children to love and forgive, so that they learn how to work for reconciliation rather than retaliation. As adults, we must model this in word and deed, but most importantly in relationship.

May God comfort those who still mourn their lost beloved ones this day. May God help all of us find a better way than wrath and vengeance. May we remember so we will not repeat the pain and suffering of that tragic September 11th twenty five years ago.