I was walking from class to work at Southern Illinois University on September 11, 2001.
Where were you?
I have two conflicting beliefs orbiting around in my head this morning – one courtesy of my friend, Rhiannon —
”I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure”– Mark Twain
The other courtesy of two folks. My brilliant niece Meredith was the first to share Proverbs 24:17 —
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.”
Can’t I feel both?
If I have two competing beliefs, can’t I simply admit this is too big for me to parse into black or white this morning?
Instead, I turn to Paul Boomer, my friend who also posted the quote from Proverbs following the news of Bin Laden’s death.
I want to share with you the other thing Boomer sent me last night. He sent it for my son, who considers normal a world with additional airport security.
My son loves talking, studying and dreaming about outer space.
From NASA Science News, Boomer shared that our Voyager Spacecrafts are preparing to leave the solar system.
More than 30 years after they left Earth, NASA’s twin Voyager probes are now at the edge of the solar system. Not only that, they’re still working. And with each passing day they are beaming back a message that, to scientists, is both unsettling and thrilling.
Whoa.
Isn’t that something?
And isn’t it something more that my son – who knows nothing of this Bin Laden and what hell he wrought on my country – lives in a place where he’s afforded the privilege to be consumed by awe and wonder?
I guess this morning I’m simply glad we think bigger sometimes, and our children have the freedom to talk, study and dream about baseball, Matisse and outer space. Some of those dreamers grew up to build spaceships.
Some may still.
Thank you, Rhiannon.
Thank you, Meredith.
Thank you, Boom.
Thank you, America.
Thank you, God.
If you can’t see the embedded video, click here to view it on YouTube.
I have mixed feelings about it as well. I was working in my newsroom at the time and two months pregnant. No one knew except my husband and I at the time. This certainly brings me back: http://www.bornjustright.com/2011/05/i-was-two-months-pregnant-on-911/
Tim,
thanks, I have been conflicted all day. I was up last night when the news hit, my husband and kids in bed, my first reaction was YES!!! and I was excited.
That feeling wore of quickly and then I was bombarded with scripture- some of which seemed to conflict with others. How can I hate so strongly and claim Christ as my Lord?
My brother retired from the airforce last week after 23 years -he is thrilled, my brother in law served in Desert Storm, he to is thrilled. I have always supported them (verbal-care packages-etc).
Still I ponder my mixed emotions,
I remember where I was when I heard about the first plane, driving the school carpool, stopping to pick up the kids of another family when their mom ran out and said, “have you heard?” (I had since I had the radio on) She said no come look at this now……..I remember walking into their home, looking at now the second plane hit on the TV screen and feeling faint, like someone had punched me and I had no air. Then I remember my 5 month old son still in the car-I needed to go back to the car and yet I seemed locked to the TV’s image of the destruction. I will never forget…….
Conflicted is definitely the word that rolls around in my mind. I do not want to be know as someone who celebrates the death of anyone.
But I am glad that he will not be plotting another killing. 9/11 is the seminal “Where were you?” event of our generation. I can very specifically remember the sick feeling of watching the second plane hit, watching the buildings fall and wondering who that I knew was in that building.
It is, and will be a scar in our psyche that doesn’t hurt every day, but will twinge with pain at unexpected moments. Osama’s death does not cure that, does not ease the pain, but for those that were directly impacted I hope it marks some closure.
I think the contrast with the royal wedding also makes it all a bit more piquant.
I like you space metaphor Tim. It really puts the point across of not focusing on the “where have we been” but on the “where we are going”.
Mat 5:44-46 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (46) If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
I hope I can learn to live by that.