Some Thoughts

I remember back in the seventies when the twin towers were being built. It was not universally desired that they be constructed—petitions to stop the project were circulated, traditionalists were concerned about the status of the Empire State Building, nearby residents were concerned about the shadow cast by the towers. But they were built and soon became an everyday part of life in a city that is noted for always changing.

I remember going to the towers because there was a TKTS booth inside (where you could purchase half-price theater tickets.) It was the only indoor TKTS booth in New York and was great when it was raining.

I remember taking Patsy and Irene to New York in the summer of 2000. We didn’t visit the Twin Towers, but went to the top of the Empire State Building and viewed them from that vantage point.

I was serving as Election Warden in the town of Mount Vernon when the planes struck. Being at the polls the information came in bits and pieces until a television was brought in and we saw for ourselves. I remember trying to call New York, trying to locate those I knew who were supposed to be there that day. I remember in the many days following hearing names of those I didn’t know were there—names I hadn’t thought of in years became etched in my mind.

Here we are. A decade has passed. Much has changed, but much has not.

We were talking about this upcoming anniversary at our Cluster meeting the other day and the cries of don’t forget.

“Don’t forget.” The words have a connotation of desire for revenge; of I’m going to make you pay. So I choose to Remember. Re-member. Finding a way of coming together, a way of building up from the rubble. There we will find God.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”—Psalm 42:11 (NIV)