To Remember September.

The memories are fresh before us, nearly too fresh to bear the name.

We remember the newscaster's voice and the red script across the bottom of the screen.

We remember the alarm in older eyes, and the terror that titles such happenings.

We remember the fear and the panic

And even some of us remember the soot and the ash and the embers falling all around.

Not too far back in the archives of our minds, we draw them out and recall

the steel

and

the glass

and

the fire

and

the flesh.

We note the way

screams pierce air,

planes pierce buildings,

metal pierces bodies.

We note the

hatred born of cruelty

the cruelty born of hate

and as we reply

with hate once more

we give ourselves away.

We note new lines draws,
divisions for war,
and each kingdom's ironic willingness
to trade people for peace.

We note

all the ways

we still have not

come home yet.

Even so…

Would you turn our faces to You this day.

Would you lift our gaze from the blaze of our memories and into the light of Your way.

Let us never forget, Lord.

In Your way of remembering

would you grant us the holiness to remember

the whole narrative – both ours and theirs.

And the grace to remember that You are still writing Yours.

We ask all these in the name of the only King to whom we dare bow,

Even Jesus.

Amen.