One of the things I really enjoy about traveling for extended periods of time is the opportunity to spend special occasions outside of my own culture. It's kind of refreshing, and definitely humbling, to realize how little the rest of the world cares about the things that are huge events for us. "Big deal," the world seems to say, "we've got holidays all the time!" Although, I have to confess that the two times I spent Independence Day in Germany were quite different than this year, when I was in Guatemala. In Germany, people are familiar enough with world history to recognize that the day had significance for me, but in Guatemala there was no mention of it whatsoever.
Perhaps more pointedly, I must confess that even I probably wouldn't have noticed the anniversary of 9/11 if it hadn't been from an email I got from ELCA-Global Missions about the proposed Q'uran burning in Florida. I don't mean to say that the day was unimportant. I just mean that I got up that morning and I went to work like everyone else. I'm living in a country, that although it has a love/hate relationship with the country of my birth, it is a primarily Catholic country, a country that's got bigger fish to fry than whether or not the "War on Terror" is justified, a country that honestly cares very little if a radical pastor in Florida decides to set flame to a bunch of books, or if a community center is built in Manhattan.
The events of September 11, 2001 have become a major milestone for many people in the United States of America, especially those of my generation. In many ways, we, US Citizens, tend mark the passage of time, change in national and international policy, and the cost of travel, among other things, using a pre-9/11 vs. post-9/11 dichotomy. So far away from home, I have to wonder... Is this an accurate portrayal of our modern history? Is it fair to use our own, somewhat personal, tragedy to define every event of the past nine years? Do we allow ourselves to dwell on this--unarguably horrible--event to the point that we ignore the tragedies of the rest of the world? Are we, by tying our emotional reactions so tightly to our political opinions, creating further divisions between ourselves and others?
I am reminded of the mission of accompaniment that we, as YAGM volunteers, are striving to live out. The words I wrote way back in June were these:
Accompaniment... says that it is only when we understand that God is in all of us and all of us are of God can our experience of the Holy be complete.... There are not two separate relationships we're seeking to maintain, but rather three balanced parts of one relationship: you, me, and God.I am sorry for those who lost friends and family on September 11, 2001. I, too, remember the horror I felt while watching those buildings fall to the ground. But as I hold those memories in my heart, I remember also all those who have died since then, using big words like God and Terrorism and Pride as justification. I remember all those who have left this earth, regardless of the date or the circumstances of their deaths, with fear in their hearts, rather than peace and comfort and love I hope will one day soon envelop our world. "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" (Ephesians 2:14, NIV).
Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla reminded us that we are not shepherds. It is not our responsibility to seek out the lost lamb. We are the 99 sheep who are actively listening for the voice of the Shepherd and trying to follow him. We are less than whole when our brothers and sisters aren't walking in partnership with us and God.
1 comment:
well said. i agree.
it's hard to even have this conversation, because you can't even begin to mention some of these themes without someone attacking you for not appreciating the gravity of 9/11.
the gravity, for me, is like you said - that which has been erroneously justified simply by virtue of the fact that 9/11 happened. an inarticulate excuse.
I hope the prince of peace is coming soon.
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