Twice a day, there's a chance I glance at a clock and see 9:11. It's a small but powerful reminder of how deeply that day affected me—I was old enough to remember it vividly, and my eyes are often drawn to that time. Internally, the mantra plays: "Never forget." In the nights right after the event, I had recurring dreams of airliners falling from the sky all around me. I didn't know anyone who died that day, and I wasn't near any of the affected sites. Around 9:15 a.m., my mom woke me up and suggested I watch the news. From that moment, I tuned into a national tragedy that still ripples through American life.
In the years that followed, powerful people did what they often do: they gained even more power by exploiting the fears and desires of everyday people. First responders were largely abandoned, except by a few dedicated groups who used their influence to raise awareness and provide resources for those heroes and their families, who have suffered so much from that day's events.
Human corruption can cloud our view of what's possible, but I still believe that if we set aside divisive narratives, we could unite and achieve amazing things. Those who profit from societal and cultural divisions make a lot of noise to keep us apart. The longer you live through events like this, the better you get at spotting when you're being turned against your neighbor. When you meet someone caught up in a harmful narrative, try responding with empathy.
As a Christian, I work hard to avoid tribal thinking. I believe we should see everyone as a potential person of faith. The moment we give in to tribalism, we can justify humanity's worst atrocities. If we're honest, we see this happening today, just as it has throughout history.
As we mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11, let's reflect on the days that followed. A thirst for revenge was stirred up, leading to a violent response. Some leaders claimed God was on our side, all while gaining immense wealth and power. But if you search the Bible for justification of violent revenge, you won't find it. In contrast to what the government and media pushed through their narratives, we also saw what's truly possible. For a brief time, we lived out what Jesus taught: we came together, loved our neighbors, sacrificed for one another, and pursued peace and charity. This capacity for good is in us, just as the potential for evil is. We're capable of both, so we must choose wisely.
Forgiveness is tougher than anger—we see that in how children react. Part of growing up is learning to move past raw anger to build a stronger community. Often, when something triggers deep anger in you, it's designed that way. If we turn off the sources of those narratives and focus on the people around us, we can make real progress in healing the damage from times when we didn't realize it could be that simple.
Think of it like the movie The Matrix: every person you help escape those illusions is a win for humanity. But beware of swapping one culture for a counterculture—it's just another tribe, with others profiting from the divide.
Let's honor those who died from human depravity by turning to God for peace and forgiveness. If we do this daily, the potential for great things becomes limitless.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.