Over the weekend I gave a great deal of thought to this question and wanted share some thoughts with you. What were you doing on the morning of September 11th?
Can you picture it clearly?
Did you know how much life would change after that terrible day?
I certainly didn't.
Looking back, pre-9/11 America felt like a simpler place.
But that's probably more a reflection of who I was than an accurate assessment of the world.
The events of that single day unleashed a wave of national grief and a transformation in how we conceived of ourselves and our place in the world.
Can we take a minute to reflect on who and what we lost?
The occupants of the twin towers and Pentagon.
The passengers of the hijacked planes.
The heroic first responders who ran into burning buildings.
The families and communities who lost loved ones.
The service members and civilians who lost their lives and health in the wars that followed.
Did you lose someone important to you? Would you share their name and story with me so we can remember them together?
Can we learn from those losses?
I hope so.
I remember the shock and anxiety after the towers fell. My stomach turned as I watched the news and videos unfold.
I also remember how united we were as a people in those early days.
In our pain, our grief, our support for one another, and our need to make sense of what happened.
I think kindness and growth often coexist with grief and pain.
Loss pushes us to cherish those we love and what we have in this moment.
What do you cherish today? For me it is faith, freedom, family, friends, good health, home, food, clothing, fulfilling work, and certainly enjoyment of the game of golf and I could go on and on.
What are you reflecting on at the moment? I thought a lot over the weekend on how I never want to take these things for granted and how thankful I am for the many who have served and now serve so I am able to cherish so much.
Be well,