When Tragedy Strikes

"These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." ~ President George W. Bush, September 11, 2001.

Today is Tuesday.  Eleven years ago on a quiet Tuesday morning, life as we knew it changed radically.  A sunny business day in New York became clouded as buildings collapsed.  People ran  from the rubble as fast as they could.  But just moments before the twin towers collapsed, people were running inside.

At some point in our lives, we are all faced with adversity.  Adversity.  It's a broad word that defines both minor and significant events that shape our character.  And when faced with trying circumstances, we have a choice.  Eleven years ago, when our country was attacked, there were firefighters, police officers, port authority personnel and many others who ran into burning buildings while others were running out.  And though we could say they were just doing their jobs, we need to remember that they were people; they had loved ones waiting for them, who expected them to come home when their shifts were over.  But they made a choice.

When the passengers on Flight 93 came to understand what was happening, they too made a choice.  They could have remained in their seats.  They were thousands of feet above the ground and could have decided there was nothing they could do.  They could have accepted their imminent death.  Instead, they chose to fight.

As we reflect on the events of that horrible day, let's honor those who died and remember we always have a choice regardless of the circumstances we face.  That day, as a country, we united.  Instead of giving up, we carried on.  And we will continue to do so.

From a poem I wrote for the two year anniversary:
"For all those lost or alone,
In remembrance we survive."

The Seventh Day ~ September AW Blog Chain

Wow, it's that time already! The Absolute Write Blog Chain for September has begun, and it's my turn.  This month's prompt is the number seven.  *September used to be the seventh month of the old Roman calendar and its name literally means seventh "month," so this month is brought to you by 7. Write wherever the prompt inspires you, fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry. Do try and keep things at a PG-13 level, though.  This month, I opted for non-fiction piece.  Actually, I'm just sharing my opinion on a particular subject.  After reading mine, please check out my fellow AWer's posts.  The links are listed below.

The Seventh Day

I think most people are familiar with the concept of God creating the earth in six days and resting on the seventh.  And one of the ten commandments is to rest on the seventh day of the week.  Now if you're not a Christian, please don't tune out.  I don't think you have to be a Christian to agree with what I'm about to say. 

We need that seventh day; we need that day of rest.  And I forget that. 

In today's society, life can become quite hectic, crazy chaotic even.  And I know for me personally, I have a difficult time making myself sit still.  And shut my mind off? Forget it.  I always have a mental list of to-dos.  While completing one thing, I'm thinking of the next dozen.  Taking an entire day and keeping it as my day of rest is next to impossible.  How can I sit still when all around me I see things that need completed? But the problem is this: I wear myself out.  I go-go-go until I can't go any more.  And then I have to take time to rest.

I don't think we were meant to keep up at the fast pace we have created for ourselves.  Almost everything I do, I do hurriedly.  I rush through one thing because I know there's something to do next.  But you know what? There will always be something to do next.  That's just life.  The important thing is realizing the world won't end if I don't get those dishes done.  Or if I don't get the laundry put away.  Or fill in the blank for the chore you do most.  My house won't fall down if I take time to relax.  And I need to remember that.

Okay, now take a look at these:
orion_mk3
Ralph Pines
bmadsen
writingismypassion (YOU ARE HERE)
pyrosama
areteus
randi.lee
wonderactivist
BBBurke
meowzbark
SuzanneSeese
AFord
Kricket