9/11

Eighteen years ago today, the sky was clear and blue.  It was such a beautiful day, people were outside taking pictures of the cityscape.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. For behold, darkness covers the land; deep gloom enshrouds the peoples. But over you the Lord will rise, and his glory will appear upon you. Nations will stream to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning. Your gates will always be open; by day or night they will never be shut. They will call you, The City of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Violence will no more be heard in your land, ruin or destruction within your borders. You will call your walls, Salvation, and all your portals, Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day; by night you will not need the brightness of the moon. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. - Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19

The reading from Isaiah reminds us that even in the worst of times, there is hope.

The war that was waged against the U.S. by terrorists nearly two decades ago continues, despite the seemingly long lasting peace we have experienced here.  God's light has not yet replaced the sun and moon.  People still see us as an evil force to be reckoned with.

And yet we have hope.

We long for the day when all hatred ceases and the world can be at peace, but will that day come in our lifetime?  Probably not.

The message I get from Isaiah is that God is always ready for us to put down our swords and come home to Him.  And God knows we don't trust each other to do the same.

As I write this, the sun has not yet come up.  There is darkness speckled by lights from street lamps, with no sign of dawn.  But we know it will come, and it may be as beautiful a day as I remember from 18 years ago.

Will it bring violence and war?  Or will it bring peace?

Perhaps we need to pray for a miracle.

They do happen.  God can do anything.

More to come...