Hi everyone,
25 years ago today was what we now call 9-11. The shock and horror of the images and events of that day resonate strongly within the American psyche but beyond the United States as well. It is one of those infamous events, famous for all the wrong reasons. In Canada, it is also famous for the response of the people of Gander Newfoundland and their wildly generous, open-hearted hospitality.
Before 2001, probably the most famous thing that had ever happened on September 11th took place in 1893 when a Hindu monk named Swami Vivekananda addressed the World’s Parliament of Religion where he told a crowd of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Muslims, Zoroastrians and others that his faith taught “both tolerance and universal acceptance,” strong religious values in contrast to “sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, (that) have long possessed this beautiful earth.” Or maybe it was 9-11 in 1906 when Mahatma Ghandi and 3000 other Indians peacefully protested the early versions of apartheid laws in South Africa. (from “Piloting Faith” by Cameron Trimple)
A day can mean many things, and we get to decide what it means to us. Our decision will depend on whether we believe in a world filled with enemies from whom we must be protected, or whether we believe in a world filled with the possibility of friendship, kinship and love. Do we believe that life is a competitive struggle meant to be won or is life a divinely blessed creative unfolding story meant to be savoured and enjoyed?
Today is not an easy day for a lot of people effected by 9-11 2001. But I choose to believe that this day, and every day is not beyond the reach of the redemptive power of love. We get to choose how 9-11 will go moving forward. And even amid the tensions and chaotic rhetoric of our time, we still get to choose what today will mean and how we will live it. May we reach back far enough and down deep enough to find the truly divine values of “tolerance and universal acceptance” (Swami Vivekananda), or as Jesus put it, abundant life that God has always intended for this and every day.
Blessings, Will
Oh, and don’t forget, this Sunday is an all ages service for Welcome Back Sunday followed by a barbeque in the courtyard in support of Shelter to Home. Welcome back to a new season at Highlands United.