Three years ago, I deliberately scheduled my return flight to NYC to land at Newark Airport on 11 September. It was my way of 'Taking Back the Day". Each of us experience this day in our own ways. One thing was clear on that day for me, amidst all the grief, pain and horror, every single person on Manhattan Island stood united and determined that day. We took care of one another in a very quiet, synchronized, compassionate manner. We each found our humanity and fully expressed loving-kindness towards one another that day.
I won't go into descriptions and stories, but each person who was present that day knows exactly what I mean. Even those who weren't there were bonded in prayers and well-wishing efforts. From the 18 wheelers that rolled in with supplies from Texas with hand-written signs on the sides that read, "Texas loves NY", to the volunteers that flew in from all over North America (Canada included) to help out, we were united in a true sense of Community. There was a businessman quietly weeping on the subway sometime that week and the man sitting next to him just put his hand on his shoulder for the duration of the ride. It was incredibly powerful to witness. It may not have had lasted forever, but it was healing to have experienced.
I wish that the horror of that day could have sobered up all humans to senselessness of the destruction of human lives around the world. I wish we could banish violence and hatred from our lives everywhere around the world. Forever. That is what I pray for most on each anniversary in memory of all those who perished that day.
