9/11--A Reflection

Undoubtedly at some point today, you were reminded it was September 11th--the tenth September 11th since the one that changed the trajectory of America’s history forever. The papers yesterday and today were heavy with human interest stories, valiant tales of patriotism, and tearful memories of lives lost. All of America, it seems, is eager to stand together again in the continuing wake of this tragedy. Even as I watch the Cowboys football game tonight, I see coaches and players on the sidelines paying homage to the Fire Department of New York by wearing hats with their insignia on them.

But perhaps no one has memorialized this tragedy better than Michael Arad, the designer of the World Trade Center Memorial. His design, called “Reflecting Absence,” opens tomorrow to the public. In my opinion, this is perhaps one of the most beautiful and poignant monuments ever made.

Rather than rebuild the towers, bigger and stronger than before, Arad chose to dig deeper into the rubble to create reflective pools. Around the pools, engraved into bronze plates, are the names of each and every victim of the September 11th attacks. Around the pools stand over 400 trees, including the Peace Tree, a plant that (like so many survivors) withstood the horrors of that day and now grows stronger every day.

I love this memorial because it symbolizes what our God does for us. When something truly evil strikes, He creates something beautiful from the scar, washes it with cleansing water, and breathes life back into tired limbs.

God bless the USA.