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
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