Last Sunday, when the newspaper banners blared NEVER FORGET, the minister preached Forgiveness.  I was glad that his message was short and sweet.  Glad that because he had preached it; I could write about 9/11 with an introduction that might be more palatable to those who still see America as invincible.   

All week, the papers were full of individual recollections: How lives had been changed that day, How we as a nation would never be same.  Yet, I think our behavior as a nation hasn't changed since then.  As citizens in the world's greatest democracy, most of us are still slugging along in our everyday lives; many more of us struggling to make ends meet.  And I am wondering whether any of us have begun to pay more attention to the actions of our government: direct and indirect, covert or overt that would foster the kind of ill-will and resentment toward our country that precipitated the attacks?  None of these reflections could diminish grief over the loss of loved ones, or the respect due our nation's heros who rise from among us during a time of crisis.  Still, I think it's fair to ask whether we are any closer as a people to having a clue as to why religious fanatics would make us their target.  Not that their actions should be justified or excused; but that they could be understood in terms of compassion for the suffering of the disenfranchised who share the perspective of seeing the mighty U.S. as the cause of their suffering.

Whether that perspective rings true (and I believe there are lengthy and valid arguments on both sides of the question), it bears consideration because it is a fact that Americans live in fear of terrorist threats from "enemies" whereas people who have only true friends would have nothing to fear. 

Last Sunday, the choir sang A Canticle of Hope.  It was a hymn of worship and praise to "the God who restores."  It made me question the length of the restoration.  Undoubtedly, much of America would like things to go back to the way they were before the towers fell.  So many folks see this day as the "day the trouble began".  It is their reference point and their rage against the terrorists prevents them from recognizing actions or events that lead up to that day.  Native American people might hope for restoration that went a little further.  I think this gives us a lot to contemplate as a nation and I believe the sooner we balance our pride against some of the less-than-noble actions our country has undertaken, the closer we will come to living in a peaceful world.

In case you are curious, the Bible passages read last Sunday are found in Matthew.  Chapter 18 versus 21-35.  There Jesus teaches that if you have been wronged, you should forgive not just up to 7 times, but 70 times 7.