Today, we gather to be reassured that God hears the lamenting and
bitter weeping of Mother America because so many of her children are
no more. Let us now seek that assurance in prayer for the healing of
our grief stricken hearts, for the souls and sacred memory of those
who have been lost. Let us also pray for divine wisdom as our leaders
consider the necessary actions for national security, wisdom of the
grace of God that as we act, we not become the evil we deplore.
-Rev. Nathan Baxter, Dean of Washington National Cathedral

driving to work this morning, i was listening to the radio which i normally don't do because i don't like the talkie-talk of morning shows and the tons of commercials. for some reason, i turned on 94.9 to get some crazy booty-shakin' song playing to get me ready for my week. instead, it was a tribute to 9/11.

i thought to myself, "oh, all right. i'll listen to juuuust a bit." i've been purposely not watching the news during the last few days, not listening to the radio, and trying not to read too many news sites because of the 9/11 overload. i think it's wonderful that so many people want to honor and remember the spirit of those lives lost, but there are millions of tributes and it's all people talk about. i get very overwhelmed with the hoopla, and want to deal with it in my own way. and silly me turns on the radio this morning...

dear lord, i have never heard such a sadder sound in my life. apparently i was listening to a walkie-talkie/radio feed from a woman firefighter/emt to her dispatcher. all of a sudden you could hear yelling and debris falling as she was speaking to him. he had no idea what was going on, and is trying to get her to give her location. between him frantically trying to get her back on the line and yelling at people to stay off that frequency, you can hear her moan as she tries to let him know where she is. it was horrible to hear this whole conversation play out, knowing what the outcome would be.

please take a moment to click here and remember those whose lives were lost 5 years ago.

i will be praying today for peace, leadership, grace, justice, and for those whose lives were lost. i hope you will join me.