Origami Peace Cranes in Honor of September 11
Today is a reflection of 9/11 that I wrote soon after 9/11/2001. I would like to share these thoughts with you.
It has certainly been a devastating week for everyone in the
United States. We all continue to feel
the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11 on all of our lives. Every time I see an American Flag at
half-staff I feel deep sorrow in my heart.
As I drove by the Amway Corporation on Saturday evening, I observed that
they had replaced the flags of many nations with all American Flags, each at
half-staff.
I am reminded that the proper way to fly the flag at
half-staff is to first raise it to the top of the flagpole, and then to lower
it half way. That would have taken a
great deal of time at Amway, with all the many flags that were flying, but what
a great way to honor the lives that have been lost. I do not know how the custom of flying a
flag at half-staff was formed, nor do I know how the procedure of raising it to
the top of the flagpole before lowering it was created. However, as I thought about the reason for
this, it seems to me that in an odd kind of way it creates a balance—raising it
to the top, and then lowering it to the mid-point.
And balance is what we as Americans must try to restore to
our lives. We have all been affected in
a variety of ways. The events of the
past week leave my heart very heavy, and it does not take much for me to cry,
and even sob. I am experiencing a
variety of emotions: intense grief and sadness, fear, and even anger and
rage. Right when I think I have worked
through my feelings, something happens to bring me to tears again, and I
realize that it will take a very long time to work through this. America will never be the same again.
It is difficult to feel the intense pain that has been
brought to our nation. I just want the
suffering to end. I much prefer to have
the feelings of pride when I see the renewed patriotism in our country. My neighborhood street has never seen so many
American flags flying. There is a group
of neighbor kids who have spent many hours standing on a street that does not
carry a lot of traffic, holding a sign that says, “Honk for America!” Every time a car passes and honks, these kids
let out a cheer! I am sure that they
look at the United States in a much different way than they have ever done
before.
It is important for all of us to be aware that we will face
a variety of feelings, and it is imperative for us to make room for all of
these intense emotions. Also remember
that any trauma that you have had in the past may be stirred up. The grieving that you may experience watching
the bombings in New York City may also intensify past losses that you have
experienced. So, as we are mourning what
is happening in our country, we also continue to mourn the losses that we have
experienced in our own families.
I remember visiting New York City
once as a child, and looking up at the Empire State Building. As an adult I have been back several
times. The purpose of my visit each time
was to see a good friend performing as a star in the Metropolitan Opera. He always marvels on how he came from a
“nobody” in small town Indiana to being a star on the huge stage of The
Metropolitan Opera. The first time I was
planning my trip, I shared with a friend (who was a frequent traveler to New
York) that I wanted to visit this huge city, but I was afraid to go. She made a sign for my refrigerator that
said, “You can do it!” And thus I did.
When I got to New York City my fear of the city
dissipated. I found it to be an exciting
and welcoming city. The most
apprehension I felt was in the fast taxi ride to and from the airport. People were cordial and friendly to me, and I
never felt like a stranger. I found it
easy to blend in with the people of the city.
I even had people ask me for directions, as if I lived there.
I was fortunate enough to have friends who live in New York
City offer me a place to stay. They live
in an apartment on the seventeenth floor, overlooking Central Park. I always loved “hanging out their window” to
look at the sights of the city. What a
thrill it was to see the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center,
especially at night. Listening to the
sounds of the city which never sleeps, is a real adventure also. That vision will never be the same
again. I feel a hole in my heart when I
think of gazing over this city, with no sight of the World Trade Center
again. It is so difficult and painful to
imagine.
For some odd reason this past week, when I felt sad about
New York City, I felt a need to explain why—to defend my sadness. I felt that
somehow I was not entitled to feel such intense grief when I did not live in
New York, nor did I know anyone personally in the Twin Towers. Then I realized
that I do not have to defend my emotions—I am an American, and I have been
injured too.
It is important for each one of us to make room for the
feelings, to find time to grieve, and to be able to do so with friends, as well
as to grieve alone. True healing comes
when we find friends to share our sorrow with.
Yes, it is important to find balance in our lives, and there are many
ways to do so. Going to work and trying
to carry on with our everyday activities is critical in creating the
equilibrium. However, taking time to
grieve, and to share with others is also important.
We ask what we can do.
Although we may not be able to help in the clean-up efforts in New York
City, I believe that we can begin to treat others in our lives with more love
and respect. Take the time to really be
with those around you. Tell people in
your lives how important they are to you.
One step at a time, one person at a time, reaching out to others in
love, WILL make a difference in our world.
