Moving On... Forever Changed
by Beth Berl
September 11, 2001! Could there be one American who would not know immediately the meaning of that statement? The shock and horror of the invasion of our very own soil by terrorists. Ours! The impact and importance of that day will ripple on forever. Children will grow up without a parent and will one day raise their own children without a grandparent. Our sense of complacency and safety has changed permanently. There is loss of people, thousands of people, good people like 350 firemen, and there is no righting that loss, no real way to count the cost of losing those individuals.
"Where is God?" people ask. He is here and He is grieved, deeply. He is evident these days in the faces of the thousands of helpers, in their prayers, in their tears and in the tedious and grueling clean-up work, done eagerly and with the hope of finding one more person. He is in the outpouring of people's generosity, shown through donations of blood, money, skills, and needed supplies.
We are moving on as a changed people with renewed patriotism, never experienced before by all of us born after World War II. There is a sense of connectedness as human beings, of tenderness, a gentler way to see and interact with each other. Katie Couric read a piece saying that Americans are experiencing a collective 'mid-life crisis,' a crisis drawing us to look at our lives, our relationships, our jobs, and our goals with a fresh eye. We are now compelled to think more deeply and honestly about our values and religious beliefs and how true we are to ourselves and what we really believe.
The Book of Romans in the New Testament has a frequently quoted verse that comes to mind often in these days. In Romans Chapter 8, verse 28 it says, "We are assured and know that all things work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose." (Amplified Bible) Even with something this tragic and horrific, God does and has and will continue to find ways to use it for good, even as He weeps with us.
Ask yourself what it is you need to learn from this terrible event, to examine and change in your own life. Dig deeply and share these thoughts with someone close to you and then make commitments and hold each other accountable. We must make sure that change keeps on happening from this great loss. Move with the passion engendered in these times in ways that will keep you living a far deeper and more meaningful life. Carpe diem!
In Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus around 60 A.D., he said, "Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16 NRSV). Our country is open spiritually in a unique way and that many are seeking truth and answers. Many are lonely and frightened and need love and care. Our "light" and "salt" is desperately needed.
Think on the words of John Laurence from the "Seven Laws of Harvest:"
WE CANNOT CONTROL
the length of our life, but we can control its width and depth
WE CANNOT CONTROL
the contour of our countenance, but we can control its expression
WE CANNOT CONTROL
the other person's annoying habits, but we can do something about our own
WE CANNOT CONTROL
the distance our head is above the ground, but we can control the height of the contents we fill into it
God can help us do something about the things we can control and we need to leave the rest, prayerfully, in His hands.
Responses to Grief
by Joyce Wagner
As we as a nation continue to grapple with the events from September 11th many of us are left with a wide range of intense emotions. The following list is far from exhaustive but may provide some helpful ideas for dealing with the feelings you may be experiencing.
Anger: Certainly in the wake of such evil actions anger is a normal and healthy response. While a certain amount of anger can be cathartic allowing rage, fury or resentment to gain control of your life can be very damaging. In many cases this type of intense anger or desire for revenge is often a cover-up for emotions that leave you more vulnerable. If you feel your anger has spiked to an unhealthy level since these attacks ask yourself if you may be feeling other emotions, such as sadness and fear that you are not comfortable letting rise to the surface.
Fear: Given the suddenness of these terrorist attacks, most individuals are feeling an increase in their levels of anxiety, panic and fear. As with many emotions, this response is your body’s natural way of coping with these events. Particularly in the first few days and weeks after a disaster you may find it difficult to concentrate, sleep or make decisions. To deal with these feelings experts recommend that you resume a normal schedule of eating, exercise and sleep as quickly as possible as well as leaving yourself time to be kind to yourself. If you do not feel your fears subsiding over the coming weeks you may consider talking with your doctor or a counselor.
Guilt: After a tragedy such as this many people ask themselves why they have been spared while others suffered and died. While there are no answers for this type of question, individuals experiencing ‘survivor guilt’ deal with a great deal of emotional anguish and self-blame. If you are experiencing this type of guilt experts advise reconstructing the incident in your mind as rationally as possible. Walk yourself through your thoughts and emotions to decipher if there is any faulty logic that has led you to blame yourself.
Sadness: Not surprisingly, each of the emotions described above, as well as numbness, fatigue and surrealness are all part of the grieving process. Whatever you may be feeling be aware that your grieving has begun the process of healing. Give yourself permission to feel the intensity of whatever emotion you may be experiencing. While it may be difficult it is also important to talk about your reactions to these events. Discussing your experience with a trusted friend, pastor, counselor and the Lord will enable you to move through this difficult time without carrying long-lasting negative effects into your future.