A moment of horror and a week of heroic response. Like everyone else, I am still trying to grasp the reality of what has happened. Like everyone else, I cannot see what will happen next. The kaleidoscope of images and the roller coaster of emotions make it hard to focus. The responsible calls for justice over blind vengeance.
Terrorism has NO religion.
Together, across all our differences, we are a strong nation, a beloved community, a congregation of memory and hope. How proud and how hopeful I felt when the leaders of this congregation put together a splendid service on Tuesday night, September 11, with only minimal help from me - I was far away at a course on empowering lay leaders. I don't think the lay leaders here need much empowering - they did such a wonderful job. They recruited musicians, created a liturgy, and most importantly, they offered hospitality, a sacred place where people of any faith or no faith could come together to share their feelings. And then we did it all over again on a smaller scale on Friday at noon when the President asked religious bodies to hold noon services of remembrance.