9/11 reflections

We haven’t mentioned it much today, but it’s there in the background.
We all know precisely where we were and what we were doing when the planes hit the towers.
We know that the world with which we are most familiar – the privileged, secure world of unquestioned entitlement  – took a turn towards a deep and dangerous angst.
We are aware that, in the backlash, 100s of 1000s of people have lost their lives in the wake of the 3000.
The horror of the fall of the towers seems personal. Why?

Is it six degrees of separation?
It seems everyone knows someone who was touched by a personal loss.
I watched a TV interview of an old acquaintance who barely escaped with his life.
Ten years on it is evident that the emotion is still raw, as acts of heroism and kindness are recalled.
He spoke not of anger, but profound sadness.

Does 9/11 stand out because dedicated and focused evil intent succeeded in seeking arbitrary destruction of the innocent and unaware?
Yet evil intent, varying in degrees of focus and ambition, slaughters thousands each day.
And the cycle continues.

Does 9/11 hold a mirror before us?
And we are horrified at what we see?

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy