A Time to Heal

Mercury stations Direct on Sunday, September 12th, and though its slow motion pace would have most people in freeze tag mode.... I suddenly had all this urge to organize, clean, and set my life in order, once and for all.  Then on the way to the market, by way of the post office and gym this morning, I passed the Fire Station.  All the firefighters were in their dress uniforms, gathering in front of the station, in remembrance of brothers lost, and lives unconscionably taken on a similar beautiful September morning, nine years ago.  My heart welled up, remembering what day this was.  I thought I had escaped the inescapable. 

The dark Moon in Scorpio took over, and I could not watch.  Nor could I watch the repetitive PTS tapes that began to course through my brain, even as I commiserated with my fellow Post Office neighbors, and raced through virtual reality on the stationary bike.  Every trauma I experienced and witnessed from childhood on, had their day... Then I stopped.  So much of my retrospective involved facing my adversaries, and some how getting, if not revenge, at least some sort of restitution.  Towards the end of my reverie I found myself seeking imaginary rapprochement.  That’s when I stopped.

What was so devastating about 9/11, wasn’t just the horrific crime that occurred, it’s also what came after that.  The feelings of revenge, and desire to get even, drove us to allow unthinkable acts to be committed as retribution.  We achieved this by dehumanizing others... and trying to find some elusive other to be the scapegoats of our wraith.  We have terrorized countless others, wreaked destruction in our attempts to restore order after the chaos we created, and in the process, bankrupted our country, and sacrificed our own children.  It is time to stop, cut our losses and move on.  And figure out ways to heal, rather than to keep reopening and worrying the wounds.

Nicholas Kristof published an article in the New York Times on Wednesday, in which he wrote about the efforts of two 9/11 widows who sought healing for themselves by reaching out to their fellow widows in Afghanistan in an attempt to educate them, and give them opportunities to be self-sustaining.  Through bonding, and mutual support, and an ability to make a difference, these women filled the empty sorrowful spaces.

There was also the story, this past week of a Palestinian-American who had built a synagogue in Arkansas (the heart of the bible belt) at no charge.  This was his individual way of creating a healing bridge.

Let's talk to one another, not yell at one another; let's disagree, but do it with the great American spirit of respect and tolerance; let's get to know one another and model for the world how we can live, with all colors, religions and stripes of humanity, together, one nation, under God. That is the American way. ~ Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater