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Teaching Moments, Poems, Letters
shared regarding the Sept. 11 Attack
One pastor writes: I am using
the 1 Timothy text with just a touch of the Gospel text. I should add that
some here are struggling with "love your enemy." I have touched on
it in a couple of sermons in the past couple of months and each time someone has
said how hard that is to do. After our prayer service last night (which
included a petition asking for God's help in loving our enemies), I overheard two
people say they didn't know if they could. So, this is not so much a sermon to
help us in our grief as a teaching moment.
The FIRST draft:
Before I being this morning's sermon, I need to ask you to use
your imagination while I take on a role. The role is of a woman in Jerusalem
not too long after Christ ascended into heaven, during the time when Christians were
being persecuted by the Jews for their faith in Jesus Christ. Yes, I remember
that day well. It was September 11-such a dark day in our city. Just
like every other day, I had risen early to make a good breakfast for my husband,
Aaron, and our kids, Ruth who is eight and Reuben who is five.
While Aaron was eating his pancakes, I got Ruth up out of bed and
tried to get Reuben up. He started kindergarten just last week and isn't yet
used to getting up early. We keep putting him to bed earlier and earlier
hoping he'll be able to wake up good but he's a growing boy and needs his
sleep. Anyhow, by the time I got Reuben dressed and into the kitchen, Aaron
was ready for some more pancakes because he let Ruth have some. I poured the
batter onto the skillet and poured some orange juice for Reuben who was already
making faces at Ruth. Oh, those two, always teasing and making faces at each
other.
As I brought the pancakes to the table, Aaron said to the
kids "yes, your mother is the best cook in town. But even if she couldn't
cook a thing, I'd still have married her because I lover her so much."
Ah, my Aaron was always saying things like that-maybe that's why I love him so
much. Ruth reminded us that she had a soccer game on Thursday. Aaron
said "I know, I've already arranged to leave work early to be
there." Then he said that he would get Reuben from kindergarten and meet
us at the field. Tussling Reuben's hair, Aaron said "and you, big guy,
you will get to ride with me."
Reuben loved to ride with his daddy. Even if Aaron was just
going out to pick up some milk, Reuben always wanted to ride along.
"Daddy, can we stop at McDonald's and get a Happy Meal? Uh, Daddy, can
we?" Now Aaron knows full well that I don't like the kids eating too much
junk food. But he's such a softie when it comes to anything the kids want that
he said "I'll tell you what, if Ruth gets to play in the game tomorrow, I'll
take you all to McDonald's and you can have anything you want!" Ruth, who
had gotten up to get her back-pack, turned and put her hands on hips and said
"Daddy, you know that I'll get to play because I'm so good." Aaron
just grinned from ear to ear and said "well then, it's a date with my family
for a trip to McDonald's!"
Because it was the Hoffmans turn to drive the kids to school,
Aaron and I had a few minutes to ourselves before he had to leave for work.
Aaron pulled his chair closer to mine and said "for you, my dear, I have
something much better than a Happy Meal for you." He reached into the
inside breast pocket of his suit and pulled out a box. "This if for my
beautiful wife."
I blushed when he said this-even after 10 years of marriage I
still blush when he says stuff like that. I opened the box and saw a small
stone on a gold chain. "It's only zirconia", Aaron said,
"because you are the real diamond."
Boy, did I ever blush then. With my cheeks still flushed,
Aaron said, "You could probably wear that when we go on our cruise next
month." Aaron and I had been saving for years to go on a cruise and we
were finally going October 5th.
Before I could respond at all, Aaron looked at his watch, jumped
out of his chair and said "I gotta go or I'll end up in the worst of
traffic." But a always, Aaron had reserved a moment of time for us to hug
and kiss before he left for the office.
I had a part-time job at the drug store around the corner, but I
didn't have to be there till 10:30. After showering and dressing, I went
downstairs and turned on the TV while I cleared the breakfast table. And I
dropped the plates I was holding when TV showed pictures of what was happening in
downtown Jerusalem.
The leaders of the synagogue were going through all the business
places where Christians worked. I fell onto one of the kitchen chairs as I
watched the images of Christians being beat up by the synagogue leaders. I
tried to figure out which building they were in but I couldn't and the newscasters
didn't know yet either.
All morning I was glued to the TV watching pictures of
destruction and death. I kept looking for a glimpse of Aaron, I needed to know
that he was OK. I knew the kids were safe in school so I headed downtown to
search for Aaron but the police wouldn't let me through. There were police and
fire crews everywhere. And the sound of ambulance sirens kept filling my
ears. But I couldn't see Aaron anywhere. I wanted to keep searching but
I knew that he would go home or at least call home as soon as he could. So I
figured the best place for me was there in our home.
The door wasn't even closed before I turned on the TV. The
announcer was saying that the national police were already trying to figure out who
was responsible for this, who had master-minded this attack. Some government
people were saying it was too early to point any fingers but a couple suggested that
the Rabbi Saul was a prime suspect.
I don't know, the next days were such a blur. Aaron was
never found and so he was eventually listed among those who were killed.
Somehow, the kids and I made it through those days. At our church we had a
memorial service for those who were known dead and for those still missing a week
later. As I came out of my fog of shock, I wanted Rabbi Saul or whoever was
responsible for that day found and punished - punished cruelly. But then I
thought about what Jesus had said about loving your enemy. As I prayed for
compassion, I came to feel that I didn't need to seek revenge against Saul.
That wasn't what I was praying for, but that's what God gave me - peace of
forgiveness.
I still miss my Aaron - sometimes I hurt so bad I just want to
give up and quit. But the kids and I keep on. Oh, Aaron would be so
proud of Ruth and Reuben now. Ruth has quit soccer to spend time learning to
play the piano. It's Reuben now who is the star soccer player.
I could go on and on about the kids. But the reason I told
you about that day, is that I have heard that Saul has found Jesus. No, I said
that wrong. Jesus has found Saul. I also heard that Saul has changed so
much. He is now known as Paul and he is traveling to many countries telling
others about Jesus: how much Jesus loves everyone and that Jesus was crucified
and was raised from the dead for all the people of the world.
You know, I never thought I would say this, but I'm beginning to
think that we could prevent a lot of the world's disputes and wars if we would only
tell more people about Jesus.
Amen.
America: The Good Neighbor
(from a Canadian newspaper)
Widespread but only partial news
coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by
Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full
text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:
"This
Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and
possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy
were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of
dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today
paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the
Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the
streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United
States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were
flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of
dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are
writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is
gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane.
Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the
Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them?
Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man
or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get
radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.
You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on
the moon-not once, but several times-and safely home again. You talk about
scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to
look at.
Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded.
They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian
laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were
breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the
Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old
caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the
help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone
else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help
even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who
is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this
thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their
nose at the lands that are gloating over their present trouble. I hope Canada
is not one of those."
Stand proud, America!
LIGHT
As we contemplate the presence of
evil in the world (and our country) we also need to remember what we are to be about
as messengers of light.
The following is also a description
of "Light":
An old Rabbi once asked his pupils
how they could tell
when the night had ended and the day had begun.
"Could it be," asked one of the students, "when you see
and animal in the distance and can tell whether
it is a sheep or a dog?"
"No," answered the Rabbi.
Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the
distance and tell whether it's a fig tree or a peach tree?"
"No," answered the Rabbi
"Then when is it?" the pupils demanded.
"It is when you can look on the face of any man or
woman and see that is your sister or brother.
Because if you cannot see this, it is still night."
Tales of the Hasidim.
(Source: Lectionary Based Christian Education)
John and Margaret Martinson
Palestinians Grieve Over US Tragedy
The Reverand Daniel Ostercamp
writes: "Both Nuha Khoury and Rev. Mitri Raheb have spoken at Concordia
College in recent years. This message lets us know that our brothers and
sisters in Bethlehem are in prayer for our nation as well.
With deep sorrow and profound grief
we write this message to offer our heartfelt condolences to the mothers, fathers,
children, friends and families of the thousands of innocent people who have been the
victims of the terrorist attacks yesterday morning on the USA. We would like
to reach out to all of our American friends to assure them that we stand by them at
this difficult and tragic time. Constantly, for the past eleven months, we
have received many messages from our friends from America expressing their
solidarity and sharing with us over our grief. Never in our worst nightmares
did we imagine that we would be witnessing such a horrendous event and human tragedy
inflicted on our American friends. We care for every life and we pray for all
those who are mourning the loss of loved ones taken away by this indiscriminate act
of organized terror. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
We are aware that the media has shown President Arafat's shocked reaction to this
act and his strong condemnation of it. Unfortunately, the media has also shown
scenes of a few Palestinians celebrating this tragedy. We want you to know
that these few do not speak for or represent the entire Palestinian people.
What the media failed to acknowledge was the majority of Palestinians who were
shocked, saddened and mournful. We believe that this media campaign is biased
and aims at dehumanizing the Palestinian people. Such a campaign follows the
same logic of the terrorists, since it deliberately attempts to punish innocent
people indiscriminately. In our grief, we are asking ourselves why did the
people immediately associate us Palestinians with the perpetrators rather than the
victims.
As Palestinians, we can very well understand the pain of our American friends.
We know what it means when political leaders are targeted and are not safe in their
own offices. We understand what it means when planes attack security
headquarters. We know how it feels when the backbone of the economy is
assaulted. We do not want to compare suffering, since every suffering is
unique and this particular tragedy has such hideous dimensions. yet, never
before have Americans and Palestinians shared so much.
We express our solidarity with the
American people. We invite people all over to:
1. Hold vigil prayers for the victims and their families.
2. Raise awareness and sensitivity to the brutality that the media perpetrates
through the images projected.
3. Monitor the way that certain nations and peoples are stereotyped (The
Americans, The Palestinians, etc.), thus inciting hatred and legitimizing
aggression.
4. Develop alternative media that will set new ethical standards in reporting.
5. Actively participate in the WCC's "Decade to Overcome Violence"
so that future generations will have compassion, do justice and value life.
6. Commit to Prophet Micah's vision that "they shall sit every person
under his vine and his fig tree and none shall make them afraid." So that
no American, Palestinian, Iraqi, Israeli, Japanese, etc. will be afraid to be in
his/her office, home, or airplane, no matter what nationality they hold.
May the peace of Christ be with us
all.
Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb
Pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church - Bethlehem
Dr. Huha Khoury - nkhoury@annadwa.org or
http://www.annadwa.org/
What to Say to the Children: One
Mother's Response
I was barely out of bed this morning before the phone
was ringing with the devastating news of the massive terrorist attack on our
country. Quickly signing on to the Internet to read the latest news, my family
gathered, horrified, before the computer screen. We sat there, almost
speechless, completely stunned by thoughts of the ramifications that this act might
bring. After a few minutes, 6-year-old Aidan ran to get his toy gun (one he
had made himself) and began shooting people with love. "We need
love!" he shouted. "Are you ready for more?" Heidi pushed
away his gun and said, "I don't like guns being pointed at me, Aidan.
Stop!" He did, and then ten-year-old Heidi looked to me with that look she has
that says, "Please explain this to me. I don't understand. This
doesn't make any sense." I knew I had to say something quickly before she
became utterly terrified.
And so I said, "Heidi, people have always been
capable of evil, just like they have always been capable of good. It's just
that with all the technology in the world today, it is a lot easier to make that
evil be more dramatic. What used to be between a few people now is between
millions. A single person or group of people can have a huge effect on the
world. It's times like this that we must become Secret Agents of Good in the
world. Just imagine, Heidi. How much good could those people have done
if they had taken all the time and brilliance that went into manifesting this
horrible deed and turned that energy towards good? We must take our energy and
make the world a better place. Something in her registered that message on a
very deep level. She went from feeling scared to feeling empowered.
Later today, I was on the phone with a dear
friend in Boston. We were talking about people's responses in situations like
this and she commented that today when she drove around, people were somehow much
more polite. Drivers were allowing people to merge. People were looking
each other in the eye more, and conversations at the drugstore had a different
quality to them than usual. "Isn't it horrible," she said "that
it takes something like this to bring out our love?" Yes, it is
horrible. But it is also an opportunity for each and every one of us. We
can respond with love or with hate. We can choose to become heroes in our own
lives or to create more division in the world. We don't know how our own
leaders will respond to this; we can only pray that their response will be
Divinely-inspired. For ourselves and our own small world, it is up to us to
choose our own response. Let's all be Secret Agents of Good. ~ Patti,
Co-owner, Chinaberry
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