World Trade Center Sermon

SOCIAL ISSUES

World Trade Center Sermon

September 16, 2001

Psalm 46 

Like so many of you, the disaster this week has left me shocked and numb. 

Like you, my mind has difficulty taking in what has happened. 

I walk down 5th Ave., look down to where the Twin Towers used to be, and feel that I must be in a dream…rather, a nightmare.

I watch family members either at the Family Center on 11th Street, at the armory on Lexington and 26th, up at the coroner’s building on 1st Ave., or on TV and sadness sweeps over me.

Have you and I ever had a week just like this one? 

Are there any positives that come to us in a time like this?

Maybe some of you like me have noticed this one. 

There’s a softness around right now.

There’s so much more of an appreciation for each other. 

Many of the walls which we build around ourselves in our society have come down. 

Economic walls. Ethnic and racial walls. Educational walls. Religious and cultural walls. 

In the face of the loss of thousands and the injury of 

thousands and the devastation to all the related loved ones and friends, all the usual dividers we put up just cannot stand.

Related to this, I was watching a woman on TV interviewed down in the heartland of Texas. I’m familiar on a first hand basis with some of the negative attitudes down there towards New York and New Yorkers.

But in the process of the interview, the woman talked about how devastated she was by what has happened and she said this in sincere tears”You know, those are my brothers and sisters up there.”

Jeri had to go to Washington this weekend to be with a friend who has just gone through serious cancer surgery.

(elaborate about Penn Station when the firemen and rescue workers walked through)

Isn’t it strange how events like this bring us together, how they cause us to see things clearly and instantly put aside the things which divide us…how they cause us to value each other and even see each other as sacred.

Searching for some kind of positive in all of this, this has got to be something we notice.

Is there a warning to us in what has happened?

It’s obvious to us that there are many.

Now, I’m not talking about the obvious warning that there are people and nations out there who hate the United States and will do whatever it takes to bring hurt and destruction to us. 

The thinking behind what has just happened is demonic. And one of the strangest parts of this is that quite possibly, those who planned and carried out this horror, would say that their faith in God is at the heart of what they did. Which is the worst kind of perversion of true religion.

Having said this let me get back to what I think is one of the more hidden warnings which come to us.

It has to do with United States attitudes towards other cultures and nations, especially those which are the most different from us.

The warning has to do with United States attitudes towards cultures and nations which are light years behind us economically.

Attitudes which are disturbingly like other mighty nations of the past who subtly and not so subtly looked down on others.

Please understand. 

I love my country and feel that time and time again she has stood there and defended weaker nations.

If you saw the movie “Saving Private Ryan” or if you are watching the current HBO series “Band of Brothers” you know what I’m talking about.

Economically, the US has helped to save so many less fortunate countries. 

I go to a Yankee game or a Ranger game and when the National Anthem is played I put my hand on my heart and get a lump in my throat.

But, if we as a nation are arrogant and condescending…if there is the attitude of superiority in what we do, it will come back to haunt us.

If we feel that our culture, our religion, our system is above others and the only one really blessed by God as we perceive God, we will convey this to the rest of the world and it will help to build and perpetuate walls of separation, misunderstanding, and isolation.

(Sai Baba youth cooking in our kitchen last night, taking the food over to the armory on Lexington Ave…they are mostly from India…embrace an eastern religion…they were yelled at on the way to the church…they were afraid of what they would run into when they went to the armory)

I think we can understand why right now there will be unfortunate backlash in towards those who look like they are from the middle east.

But the truth is…these beautiful young adults might have been yelled at 6 weeks ago or 6 months ago.

Almost hidden in the warnings which come to us at a time like this, isn’t there one to us as Americans about our attitudes?

I want to think with you about one final question.

How do we get through this whole thing? 

What’s it going to take?

What’s going to sustain us?

I want to tell you a personal story and in doing this I hope and pray that I am not being trivial.

Years ago I was working in western Colorado in the mountains. 

One day four of my friends and I set out to climb Mt. Princeton one of the 14, 000 foot peaks in the Collegiate Range out there. 

Our camp was at 9000 feet…we arose early one morning…and began our trek to the top, 6000 feet higher.

We made our way up a steep trail, then came to timberline and at that point we started making our way through the rocks and boulders.

It was a beautiful day till midmorning.

Then, the sky darkened, the wind picked up and the temperature began to drop.

Snow began to fall. The Temperature dropped 40 degrees in a matter of minutes. 

We found ourselves in a blizzard like snow storm and we could hardly see one another.

We were inexperienced and ill prepared for the storm. We were dressed more for a day at the beach than for mountain weather, and the storm lasted for hours.

We began to feel the effects of hypothermia and we knew we had to do something quickly or…….

We moved very close together and for some reason began to make our way horizontal on the mountain.

Well, the storm lasted a long time, but it finally blew over.

So, how did we make it?

It was like this…as we moved horizontally on the mountain, we came to a formation of boulders which almost formed a small cave.

We came upon this cave, this refuge, climbed into it, and it provided the essential shelter which we needed. Possibly, it saved us.

But there was one more thing.

After we climbed into the cave, the refuge, we moved as close together as possible and held on to each other. We were not kidding. We threw out our inhibitions and shared our body heat with one another.

So, what will get us through this storm?

I’m reminded of the ancient words from the scriptures.

God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble.(Psalm 46:1)

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me….(Psalm 61:1-3)

What will get us through this storm? 

The maker of the heavens and the earth. 

Our creator, our father/mother God, who walks with us and loves beyond our comprehension.

Who time and time and time again picks up the pieces, and brings hope and healing to us humans when we inflict pain and sorrow upon each other.

And, what will get us through this storm?

The way we stick together.

The way we care for each other.

The way we offer our warmth to each other in the storm and hold on.

And the people said….AMEN.