A Word from Laura: Remembering September 11th
· A picture-perfect day in early September
· An armed national guard on a street corner
· Smoke coming from anywhere near the Pentagon
These are all potential triggers for me, bringing short breaths or a tightness in my chest or knots in my stomach, based on now twenty-year-old experiences from 9/11.
I felt the same in my church’s neighborhood in New York, known as a bedroom community for NYC firefighters. We were with a realtor looking at a house for sale, when we were greeted by the portrait of the family patriarch who had lost his life in rescue efforts. Five years later, with a picture of someone I had never met, I still had trouble breathing.
Twenty years later, post-traumatic responses are still natural when we remember the trauma of September 11. But that doesn’t mean we have to be re-traumatized.
If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of grief or anxiety or dread, some thoughts as we approach this Saturday:
1) Practice self-care.
Take time to connect with others who are supportive and understanding. Don’t be afraid to share what’s going on. Limit your exposure to the media, where images from 9/11 will surely be recurring. Remember to exercise; medical experts remind us that movement like running or walking or biking helps to release endorphins and the anxiety-producing stress hormone cortisol.
2) Remember with intention.
Lift up loved ones who may also be grieving, particularly friends or family members who were personally impacted. This is also the time to remember individuals who lost their lives and those who sacrificed their lives or well-being for the sake of others – whether first responders, those on flight 93, those who worked to find survivors. If grief comes from this, allow yourself to feel it and recognize it as a tribute to those who were lost.
3) Consider what we have learned.
The Washington Post and other publications have had some powerful reflections on our national response, particularly how we got pulled into war with Iraq and Afghanistan. But what have you learned personally – about yourself? About our nation? About how trauma can “undermine the clear thinking and calm deliberation big decisions require,” to borrow from E.J. Dionne’s Thursday editorial?
4) Make some notes and spend some time with God.
If the word “prayer” feels too weird, consider setting aside some God-time. Share what’s going with you with God; remember the lives of those lost; ask for God’s wisdom for yourself and for our nation moving forward. Knowing what you know to be true about God – God is love, God is justice, God is on the side of the oppressed - where do you notice the Divine Light shining through?
And join us this Sunday, as we gather once again as a community of faith, in-person or on-line, seeking God’s Spirit at work in the midst of our remembering.
Grace and peace, my friends, on this anniversary and always,
Laura