Twenty years. But don’t we all remember it like it was yesterday?

We remember exactly where we were when we heard. We remember the brutal punch-in-the-soul feeling when it was clear that the first plane was not random. Devastating.

Something that stood out to me in the days and weeks following, when all flights were grounded (we lived close to our airport and really felt the absence of the takeoffs and landings) and all we could do was watch the coverage and the grief unfold, was how the awfulness of it created instant bonds and inspired kindness and gratitude for others. “We’re in this together. We’ll get through this together. We have each other.”

Rob and I have recently been watching the National Geographic documentary “9/11: One Day in America.” It is excellent, but is also really really difficult to watch. All sorts of emotions swirl – seeing the day pieced together, the awful hours playing out. At once, I am inspired by the stories of heroic acts, despairing over the lives lost, questioning whether I am watching in a way that honors them.

I am in awe, hearing survivors retelling their struggle and journey to exit the buildings – how they persevered and kept going around and through insurmountable obstacles to get out before their tower collapsed. They worked together, they put their lives on the line, they responded to cries for help. They did whatever was necessary to comfort, encourage and help one another stay strong and make it to safety.

They were human together. They were for one another with no cares about politics or which side of an issue they were on. I guess there is something about fighting for your very life that helps a person see what is really important. Even if moments before they were legitimately or “rightfully” angry and arguing their point on opposite sides of an issue, when it came down to it, they were on the same side – the human side – and willing to risk their lives for one another and work together to survive.

One would have hoped that experiencing a pandemic together would have had the same effect. For a while, when things were really shut down, it seemed like we managed it, but here we are, months later, having figured out how to let ourselves get divided and upset and on opposing sides again.

Are we addicted to conflict? Are we more enamored with expressing opinions that we are committed to expressing love for our neighbor?

It seems we have the luxury of being offended. It seems we value that luxury over many things. We have it in us to do better.

On this day of remembrance, let’s decide to honor those who perished on that day, or on any of the really hard days before or since by running things through a different filter. Instead of being ticked off by opinions, viewpoints, strategies, values and beliefs that differ from our own, let’s practice empathy and kindness and helpfulness. Let’s ask ourselves, “If my life was on the line with an impossible obstacle to overcome, could I work together with this person? Would we see ourselves on the same team then?”

When it comes right down to it, that is the big picture. We humans have enough to overcome without pitting ourselves against one another.

Let’s go. “Team People” all the way.

So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.
John 13:34-35

 Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. 
But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you?
Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.
Ephesians 4:31-32