Wednesday Wisdom: Since September 11th
I was studying for a chemistry test at the breakfast table. And then the world stood still. And nearly our whole entire class failed that chemistry test. Because it didn't matter.
The power went out that night. I crossed the street to my sister's house and sat in her back yard with my feet in the swimming pool, staring up at the empty, starry sky. It felt so apocalyptic, like we were watching for Jesus' return at any moment. Days later the kind, Sikh man who owned the gas station at the end of our street was murdered because hate begot hate. Our little street in Mesa, AZ made world news and the neighborhood rallied with an unforgettable display of grief, showering the family with cards, flowers, candles and a line of vehicles parked along the street that symbolized our presence.
Many of us were certain we were witnessing the end. But I'm realizing that just because it's happening to me, isn't what makes something apocalyptic. It's not the first time an event so tragic has occurred and it won't be the last. Many felt certain it was the end in 70 A.D. when Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. I'm sure that the people near Pompeii nine years later felt the same. World War II destroyed approximately 3% of the world's population, with a death toll of 70-85 million people. Tragedy isn't new.
But each of those tragedies changed the world in more ways than we can even consciously recognize. And the world changed on September 11, 2001. It's a coping mechanism we're blessed with to try to find silver linings. How somehow the world changed for the better. And for a little while amidst the rubble and rawness of our emotions, we could see it. The beauty that was unity, pride, and faith. It wasn't weird for me to walk through my college campus and see groups huddled in public prayer or to lock eyes with someone and know you were thinking the same things. Sadly, much of this was fleeting. In many ways since September 11th, we've become a more anxious, suspicious, and cynical people. Kindness has long since gone out of style and hate is often confused with strength.
Not everything happens for a reason. I know this is a hard pill to swallow and probably sounds faithless. But I don't find the trite, well meaning statement "You know everything happens for a reason" in the Bible. Yes, some things happen for a reason. But, some things happen because the perfect world God created is still in a broken state. And it will only get worse before it gets better.
However, despite that, I do believe that our God is an expert in planting beautiful things amidst the most disgusting manure. Don't the most beautiful wildflowers grow after wildfires? To really see the things that have sprouted out of the ground, we have to look past those of us who were adults when 9/11 happen to those who were born near or after 9/11, the group we know as GenZ. They are far from perfect but they were formed out of the ashes, and I see a lot of beauty they've brought to the world. Kids in the GenZ category embrace diversity easily. They ask questions because they care about "why". They're discerning and consume information with a more critical eye. They want to make the world kinder and more inclusive. They value close relationships and authenticity.
What can we learn from them? How can we apply this beauty to our lives? And how can these wildflowers help us to finally heal?
The power went out that night. I crossed the street to my sister's house and sat in her back yard with my feet in the swimming pool, staring up at the empty, starry sky. It felt so apocalyptic, like we were watching for Jesus' return at any moment. Days later the kind, Sikh man who owned the gas station at the end of our street was murdered because hate begot hate. Our little street in Mesa, AZ made world news and the neighborhood rallied with an unforgettable display of grief, showering the family with cards, flowers, candles and a line of vehicles parked along the street that symbolized our presence.
Many of us were certain we were witnessing the end. But I'm realizing that just because it's happening to me, isn't what makes something apocalyptic. It's not the first time an event so tragic has occurred and it won't be the last. Many felt certain it was the end in 70 A.D. when Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. I'm sure that the people near Pompeii nine years later felt the same. World War II destroyed approximately 3% of the world's population, with a death toll of 70-85 million people. Tragedy isn't new.
But each of those tragedies changed the world in more ways than we can even consciously recognize. And the world changed on September 11, 2001. It's a coping mechanism we're blessed with to try to find silver linings. How somehow the world changed for the better. And for a little while amidst the rubble and rawness of our emotions, we could see it. The beauty that was unity, pride, and faith. It wasn't weird for me to walk through my college campus and see groups huddled in public prayer or to lock eyes with someone and know you were thinking the same things. Sadly, much of this was fleeting. In many ways since September 11th, we've become a more anxious, suspicious, and cynical people. Kindness has long since gone out of style and hate is often confused with strength.
Not everything happens for a reason. I know this is a hard pill to swallow and probably sounds faithless. But I don't find the trite, well meaning statement "You know everything happens for a reason" in the Bible. Yes, some things happen for a reason. But, some things happen because the perfect world God created is still in a broken state. And it will only get worse before it gets better.
However, despite that, I do believe that our God is an expert in planting beautiful things amidst the most disgusting manure. Don't the most beautiful wildflowers grow after wildfires? To really see the things that have sprouted out of the ground, we have to look past those of us who were adults when 9/11 happen to those who were born near or after 9/11, the group we know as GenZ. They are far from perfect but they were formed out of the ashes, and I see a lot of beauty they've brought to the world. Kids in the GenZ category embrace diversity easily. They ask questions because they care about "why". They're discerning and consume information with a more critical eye. They want to make the world kinder and more inclusive. They value close relationships and authenticity.
What can we learn from them? How can we apply this beauty to our lives? And how can these wildflowers help us to finally heal?
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| The surviving pear tree of ground zero |
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