Twelve Years

I remember sitting at my desk, going about my usual tasks at work when I found out about the attack on the World Trade Center. We all brought up the news on our computers, and were enventually allowed to go to the cafeteria to watch the television and to comfort each other a bit. I did not know at the time that a high school classmate of mine had perished in Pennsylvania when Flight 93 went down. I found that out later that day. Sandy Bradshaw was a good woman, and I still mourn her loss, as well as that of all the victims on 9/11.

I look at the world today, and I wonder how much we, as the human race, have accomplished since then. I hope that we have moved forward, but I just don't know. In the United States, fear has led to loss of freedoms, xenophobia, and bitterness or hatred toward those who believe differently. Those who look to profit from this fear have fueled the flames and many of us have let them, or even helped them.

Too many lives have been lost on all sides (one life is too many), and the money spent on conflict in the Middle East is overwhelming. Yet conflict is growing. The coalition troops stepped down in Iraq and sectarian violence escalated. Political, religious and sectarian violence are all over the Middle East, and in the United States. If you don't believe that America has its share, look at the number of hate crimes that are occurring in this country. Look at how immigrants are treated. Look at how peoples of different faith are treated. Oh, it may not be a governmental thing, but the undercurrent is there among the populace. It is poison and spreading more than we'd like to admit.

What can we do about this? I don't have the answers, but I have some suggestions.

1) Quit letting the beliefs of others threaten the beliefs that we hold dear. We think that our beliefs are the only right ones and we want to push them on others. Live and let live. If our beliefs can't stand the challenge of being questioned, what good are they? I have friends of all faiths and political beliefs. I have friends who are atheists, who many times make more sense to me than some other people of religious faith. The differences do not bother me in the least. I love them all. My personal belief as a follower of Christ informs my life. I draw strength and comfort from it. If I live a life that makes people want to know more about my faith, I'll share. I have always appreciated people of other faiths who have shared theirs with me. I've learned much and have had my own faith strengthened. We all have to get through this life the best way that we can, to become as whole as we can. Let's help each other to do so, instead of being stumbling blocks.

2) Go out of our way to be nice to someone who is different, especially if that difference makes us uncomfortable. If possible get to know someone like this. Befriend them. We might be surprised at how much that makes us grow.

3) Sacrifice for others, be it time, money, or comfort. Give and see how it is given back in ways that we would never imagine.

4) Let differences help us to make better decisions as a whole, instead of letting these differences tear us apart. Communication with an open mind is the only way to move forward.

5) Finally, spread love as if it is greater than money or possessions, because it is. John Shelby Spong uses the term, "love wastefully". Love not because we will receive something in return, but because we see that which is sacred in each living being. The Bible says that humankind was formed out of the dust of the earth and animated with the breath of God. Carl Sagan liked to say that we are all made of "star stuff". We are all connected in ways that we don't even realize. We must grow into this realization if we are to heal this planet. We are all one.

Shalom, Namaste, Love to all people, everywhere. Blessings to you all.