REST IN PEACE

I am a World Trade Center tower, standing tall in the clear blue sky, feeling a violent blow in my side, and

I am a towering inferno of pain and suffering imploding upon myself and collapsing to the ground.
May I rest in peace.

I am a terrified passenger on a hijacked airplane not knowing where we are going or that I am riding on fuel tanks that will be instruments of death, and

I am a worker arriving at my office not knowing that in just a moment my future will be obliterated.
May I rest in peace.

I am a pigeon in the plaza between the two towers eating crumbs from someone's breakfast when fire rains down on me from the skies, and

I am a bed of flowers admired daily by thousands of tourists now buried under five stories of rubble.
May I rest in peace.

I am a firefighter sent into dark corridors of smoke and debris on a mission of mercy only to have it collapse around me, and

I am a rescue worker risking my life to save lives who is very aware that I may not make it out alive.
May I rest in peace.

I am a survivor who has fled down the stairs and out of the building to safety who knows that nothing will ever be the same in my soul again, and

I am a doctor in a hospital treating patients burned from head to toe who knows that these horrible images will remain in my mind forever.
May I know peace.

I am a tourist in Times Square looking up at the giant TV screens thinking I'm seeing a disaster movie as I watch the Twin Towers crash to
the ground, and

I am a New York woman sending e-mails to friends and family letting them know that I am safe.
May I know peace.

I am a piece of paper that was on someone's desk this morning and now I'm debris scattered by the wind across lower Manhattan, and

I am a stone in the graveyard at Trinity Church covered with soot from the buildings that once stood proudly above me, death meeting death.
May I rest in peace.

I am a dog sniffing in the rubble for signs of life, doing my best to be of service, and

I am a blood donor waiting in line to make a simple but very needed contribution for the victims.
May I know peace.

I am a resident in an apartment in downtown New York who has been forced to evacuate my home, and

I am a resident in an apartment uptown who has walked 100 blocks home in a stream of other refugees.
May I know peace.

I am a family member who has just learned that someone I love has died, and

I am a pastor who must comfort someone who has suffered a heart-breaking loss.
May I know peace.

I am a loyal American who feels violated and vows to stand behind any military action it takes to wipe terrorists off the face of the earth, and

I am a loyal American who feels violated and worries that people who look and sound like me are all going to be blamed for this tragedy.
May I know peace.

I am a frightened city dweller who wonders whether I'll ever feel safe in a skyscraper again, and

I am a pilot who wonders whether there will ever be a way to make the skies truly safe.
May I know peace.

I am the owner of a small store with five employees that has been put out of business by this tragedy, and

I am an executive in a multinational corporation who is concerned about the cost of doing business in a terrorized world.
May I know peace.

I am a visitor to New York City who purchases postcards of the World Trade Center Twin Towers that are no more, and

I am a television reporter trying to put into words the terrible things I have seen.
May I know peace.

I am a boy in New Jersey waiting for a father who will never come home, and

I am a boy in a faraway country rejoicing in the streets of my village because someone has hurt the hated Americans.
May I know peace.

I am a general talking into the microphones about how we must stop the terrorist cowards who have perpetrated this heinous crime, and

I am an intelligence officer trying to discern how such a thing could have happened on American soil, and
I am a city official trying to find ways to alleviate the suffering of my people.
May I know peace.

I am a terrorist whose hatred for America knows no limit and I am willing to die to prove it, and

I am a terrorist sympathizer standing with all the enemies of American capitalism and imperialism, and

I am a master strategist for a terrorist group who planned this abomination. My heart is not yet capable of openness, tolerance, and loving.
May I know peace.

I am a citizen of the world glued to my television set, fighting back my rage and despair at these horrible events, and

I am a person of faith struggling to forgive the unforgivable, praying for the consolation of those who have lost loved ones, calling upon the merciful beneficence of God/Yahweh/Allah/Spirit/Higher Power.
May I know peace.

I am a child of God who believes that we are all children of God and we are all part of each other.
May we all know peace.


Somehow the byline for Rest In Peace was misplaced. I remember
that it was written by a Buddhist monk, but I don't recall his name.
My sincere apologoies.



Lord, grant me the courage to walk on...
When adversity is just around the corner.

Lord, grant me the faith to walk on...
When the way is dark and I am lost.

Lord, grant me the strength to walk on...
When my legs falter and my body falls.

Grant me these things, Lord,
And I will fear nothing.

 

Hopi Prayer

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints of snow.

I am the sunlight on the ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I did not die.

Anonymous


 

THE LORD'S
PRAYER
 

 

Our Father,
Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day,
Our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those that trespass
against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil...

Amen

"Keep your mind about you while all others are losing theirs."

--Rudyard Kipling


The smoke still reaches toward heaven carrying with it the souls of our country's innocent dead. May they rest in eternal peace and may God help us all.

Anthony Scrima (Plainfield, IL)
September 16, 2001



Footprints ...
(A New Version)

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints, they have become
one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked.
Your dream ends. Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."

" That is correct."

" ... And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps; following you very closely."

"Very good. You have understood everything so far."

" ... When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like you in every way."

"Precisely."

"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."

There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice.

"You didn't know?

That was when we danced."



 
 

LORD, MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF THY PEACE!
WHERE THERE IS HATRED, LET ME SOW LOVE;
WHERE THERE IS INJURY,PARDON;
WHERE THERE IS DOUBT,FAITH;
WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR,HOPE;
WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS,LIGHT;
AND WHERE THERE IS SADNESS,JOY;

O DIVINE MASTER-
GRANT THAT I MAY NOT SO MUCH SEEK
TO BE CONSOLED,AS TO CONSOLE;
TO BE UNDERSTOOD, AS TO UNDERSTAND;
TO BE LOVED, AS TO LOVE;
FOR IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE;
IN PARDONING THAT WE ARE PARDONED;
AND IN DYING THAT WE ARE BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE.

ST. FRANCIS of ASSISI
 

 

A MEMORIAL OF PAIN:
I KNEEL TO PRAY

I KNEEL TO PRAY,
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
I ASK FOR RELIEF FROM ALL THE PAIN,
I SIT AND PONDER WHAT IT IS
THEY WERE TO HAVE GAINED ...

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY ...
WHEN THEY CHOSE TO MAKE US PAY.
CRYING, SCREAMING, DYING,
THEY HAD NO CHOICE
NOW THEY WILL BE OUR "VOICE".

MOTHERS, FATHERS, BROTHERS, SISTERS ALL DEAD
HOW DO THEY REQUEST THAT WE KEEP A COOL HEAD ...
THEY DECLARED "WAR"
AND TOLD US "NOT"...
WHAT IT WAS FOR.

I KNEEL TO PRAY,
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY ...


I wrote this as I did not know what to say to our "GOD"... And I know there are others that felt the same way. I know that all of those that you dearly loved are now in the arms of "angels". May GOD BLESS US ALL.

Dana Wagenhoffer (Brighton, CO)
September 19, 2001
dixiepp1@netzero.net

 

  


 

To all the people who lost loved ones
in those terrible attacks on Tuesday.


A JESUS HUG

Have you ever had a "Jesus hug",
Do you know what one feels like?
If you've never had a "Jesus hug",
I pray these days you might.

A "Jesus hug" is different,
As far as hugging goes;
It's a little taste of Heaven,
Here on earth below.

Only those who love the Lord,
Can give a "Jesus hug";
It conveys God's grace and mercy,
And unconditional love.

Those who give out "Jesus hugs"
Always seem to somehow know
Just when you're in need of one
To make your spirit glow.

And if you ever need one
I hope that I will see,
So I can give you a "Jesus hug";
Just like someone did for me.


I guess this is the moment all of you need a "Jesus hug".

Anna (Barcelona, Spain)
September 19, 2001

 

 


For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God will get the glory if we will be obedence.

ROMANS 8:29-39

 

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