Dear saints,
Tomorrow the nation marks a poignant milestone as we remember those who were killed and who lost their lives striving to rescue others on September 11, 2001. I am sure that many of us can recall where we were and who we were with when the news broke of the terrible events of that day. Among those who remember, we know that this 20th anniversary will be a source of sadness and loss for many. When my family and I visited the 9/11 memorial in New York a few years ago and stood at the side of its vast pools of cascading water the sheer scale of that loss came clearer into view. Seeing the names of the individuals remembered there also helped me appreciate how loss like this, as vast as it is, is also intensely individual. Reading each one brought to mind a person of infinite value, mourned by a family, missed by friends, beloved of the God who embraces us all. For me, tomorrow’s anniversary is a reminder of the sheer gift of life and an encouragement for us to offer the world the best of ourselves. Let us pray with those who will feel the absence of loved ones these coming days, and let us also pray that the peace of God may reign in our hearts and in the life of our world.
Peace,
Simon+
