9/11

Rebuilding a Tower Together
Genesis 11 – Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’ And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’
9 – 11! Two numbers that up until 10 years ago meant little together. Now when placed side by side they define – hatred, sadness, insecurity, loss of innocence, shattered hopes, suffering………… of all the definitions of 9/11, I am most dismayed by the loss of innocence. The terrorists have won if we now live in a state of constant mistrust and fear. It is so antithetical to the Gospel message of “fear not.” They have won if it has dampened the childlike dream of a realm where the lion and the lamb can lie together in harmony.
For some reason this morning I was led to Genesis 11 – the account of the tower of Babel. It starts out with that wonderful dream of one world where there was understanding and unity. But then came the devilish words: “Come, let us………………..make a name for ourselves.” “Ourselves…not our God…….Ourselves.” It began the battle between bricks and mortar and things of the Spirit.
Come us rebuild this tower together
Built with those holy girders that can weather
The storms of life
That come because of hatred and selfishness induced strife
Come let us rebuild a tower that auto-pilot planes built with revenge cannot topple and shatter
Let us rebuild it with concrete hard faith-based values, those things that when given flight in the heart really matter
No unmanned drones that have collateral damage that the innocent disfigure and kill
But rather planes overflowing with food for the hungry whose stomachs cry out to be filled
Let us rebuild with pillars of innocent trust given which pre-judges no one until the stranger’s story is heard
That in speaking of others recognizes all as children of God and begins by speaking an good, uplifting word
Let us rebuild with pillars that are not motivated by seeking self esteem or greed
But listens and then acts to meet the other’s need.
It is strange that the initial response to those now forever wed numbers 9/11
Brought a visual image not of towers crumbling before our eyes but a vision of heaven
People risking their lives to comfort the suffering and seek the lost
To be there for the others regardless of the cost
No questions on that day whether a person in need was Christian, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, Buddhist or Jew
To save a life or weep with those who weep was all the heroes of that day knew
So let us begin the rebuilding task infused in our souls by an innocent yet strong message preached from a towering cross
In rebuilding let us make a name for the One who proclaimed in reaching for heaven there are vistas of joy awaiting our sight in spite of the cost.
I know! For some this attempt at prose will appear so idyllic and unrealistic. The question is “Have we ever really tried it?”