OUT OF THE ASHES
October 2001

Sometimes the absurdities contrast the stark realities of tragedy and shock. A plea went out from the rescue workers at the World Trade Center. Not for blood or money, but to stop sending dog food for the rescue dogs. They were being inundated with cans of dog food from compassionate donors.

In the past few weeks we have ridden an emotional carousel of ups and downs. From the unicorns of compassion to the dragons of anger to the rats of depression, we ride a seemingly endless circle to the tune of constant news updates and the never-ending replays of the airplane strike and the crumbling towers.

We look for variations in a story that has us so transfixed that we feel guilty when we think of anything else. We look for ways to express our feelings, direct our anger, and show our support and patriotism. We seem to be floundering in our despair as we search for the appropriate personal response to such an historic catastrophe. Time may help give a different perspective to what will surely be a defining moment in the history of our nation. But we have the present to deal with.

We have had within our community persons who have witnessed far greater human tragedy than the events of September 11, 2001. Many have seen the ravages of war in Europe, saw first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust, and our recent refugees could tell you about the genocides in Kosova and Rwanda.

What makes the assaults on New York and Washington so different is that it has happened to us. It has shattered our illusion of invincibility and invulnerability. We have become an emperor with neither armor nor clothes. We find ourselves running in many directions trying to do different things all at once: rescue the perishing, mourn the dead, comfort the bereaved, investigate the lapses, stop the terror, build up the defenses, and feed the dogs. It would help if we would pause for a moment in the midst of all this and assess the meaning of what has happened and its impact upon the human spirit.

I have been involved in a few archaeological excavations and what has always impressed me is that cities are often built upon the ashes and debris of their predecessors. Mighty Troy, for example, rises on nine layers, previous cities that had fallen to earthquake, conquest, or abandonment. When we see the cataclysms of history from the perspective of time, we can come to appreciate the benefits of disaster. New birth and growth are fertilized by the past. The better angels of our nature are nurtured and rise to new heights as we applaud heroic efforts, compassionate deeds, the stirrings of patriotism, courage, and faith. We are starting to care less about our apathy. We learn a little more and move ahead, each generation making the same mistakes and experiencing the same tragedies, but hopefully inching forward in our collective consciousness and moral evolution. On the detritus of our failures we rise a little higher. Out of the ashes of our yesterdays we build a better tomorrow.

There are times when we wonder if God knows what he's doing. But since we are not always privy to the mind of God, we must walk by faith and not by sight, and trust that God occasionally consults his blueprints for Creation. This is a good time to consider your own spiritual journey, to take stock of how you are reacting to the events around you, and what meaning this may have for your future. God is still in control of human destiny. You can count on it.



Harry L. Serio