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The Choice
God can be found in the unlikeliest of places, even in the heart of deepest darkness. Andrea Raynor, a chaplain in New York, was a witness to this at Ground Zero in the immediate aftermath of September 11. She took regular shifts at the on-site morgue, the first stop for remains recovered from the wreckage. There, she blessed the dead while also ministering to the people who showed up day after day for the terrible work of cataloging the bodies.
A Harvard Divinity School graduate, Raynor offered compassion and an ear to men and women suffering from guilt or post-traumatic stress or simply exhausted and overwhelmed by the task at hand. Every night Raynor also left behind a husband and two worried young children and had to contend with the toll her work was taking on them.
In this moving and inspiring essay, Raynor explores the ongoing choice she faced while fulfilling this difficult duty: Should she return for another shift? Could she return without falling into despair? Through her faith, she was able to serve those who needed her most. And in the face of tremendous horror and heartbreak, she saw that hope and decency were not lost, as signs of humanity and healing continued all around her.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2016
24 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 28, 2019
Heartbreaking and haunting, but also incredibly powerful and moving. This is a beautifully written first-person account of the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, from the pen of a chaplain who worked at Ground Zero. This little book choked me up more than once, but ultimately left me with a deep feeling of hope (especially the section about the rescue dogs.)
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
I recommend this book. I believe it will touch your heart, it certainly did mine!
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
I recommend this book. I believe it will touch your heart, it certainly did mine!
October 1, 2016
The Choice; A Review
I would have liked to have read more of the author's experiences at ground zero. I often wondered about the coping mechanisms of individuals involved in the aftermath of this horrendous tragedy. This little book gave me some insight into that and has inspired me to explore more publications that deal with coping, resilience and faith.
I would have liked to have read more of the author's experiences at ground zero. I often wondered about the coping mechanisms of individuals involved in the aftermath of this horrendous tragedy. This little book gave me some insight into that and has inspired me to explore more publications that deal with coping, resilience and faith.
September 11, 2016
The Choice takes readers on a guided tour of the hearts and minds of workers at Ground Zero in the months following 9/11. The essay is a prayer walk through the process of making choices and a compassionate look at the consequences those choices bring. Quick read, highly recommended.
February 21, 2017
Words of Truth
The simple words of this glimpse of time in the life for a person of faith and service rings deeply true. Like the bits and pieces that she blesses, comes the quick shinning of defiance of light against darkness. Goodness standing up. I love her story because I wanted to be her, and could not. So she took a place there and told of it, for me. I will read it again and again. Thank you, Andrea.
The simple words of this glimpse of time in the life for a person of faith and service rings deeply true. Like the bits and pieces that she blesses, comes the quick shinning of defiance of light against darkness. Goodness standing up. I love her story because I wanted to be her, and could not. So she took a place there and told of it, for me. I will read it again and again. Thank you, Andrea.
September 13, 2016
On a personal note:
I confine most of my reading to fiction, with occasional forays into works of history, which may be a different type of fiction. Every once-in-a-while I look at non-fiction. Sometimes it is by accident. I find it amazing that I downloaded this Kindle Single on September 11. I did not preview the book. I believe I clicked on the icon by mistake. If I had known it was about the attack on the World Trade Center, I would not have downloaded it. For me, there is just too much noise and repetition of horrible personal tragedies. This book is not like that. It is uplifting and hopeful about survival. It was an emotional read for me and the best that I have read about coping with a huge disaster (the event itself) and personal long-lasting grief (I can save only myself).
As for the book:
The Choice by Andrea Raynor is a short book of reflection on the choices made by people of all occupations on September 11 when the Towers came down in New York. The author is still making choices several months later, at Christmas. So are the workers working at Ground Zero. Raynor worked as a chaplain in the morgue at Ground Zero while the cleanup was going on. She talked with construction workers, police officers, firefighters, EMT personnel, soldiers, and other chaplains as all tried to come to grips with the realities they had witnessed. She reflects on how her life has changed and the effects on her family and daily routines.
I confine most of my reading to fiction, with occasional forays into works of history, which may be a different type of fiction. Every once-in-a-while I look at non-fiction. Sometimes it is by accident. I find it amazing that I downloaded this Kindle Single on September 11. I did not preview the book. I believe I clicked on the icon by mistake. If I had known it was about the attack on the World Trade Center, I would not have downloaded it. For me, there is just too much noise and repetition of horrible personal tragedies. This book is not like that. It is uplifting and hopeful about survival. It was an emotional read for me and the best that I have read about coping with a huge disaster (the event itself) and personal long-lasting grief (I can save only myself).
As for the book:
The Choice by Andrea Raynor is a short book of reflection on the choices made by people of all occupations on September 11 when the Towers came down in New York. The author is still making choices several months later, at Christmas. So are the workers working at Ground Zero. Raynor worked as a chaplain in the morgue at Ground Zero while the cleanup was going on. She talked with construction workers, police officers, firefighters, EMT personnel, soldiers, and other chaplains as all tried to come to grips with the realities they had witnessed. She reflects on how her life has changed and the effects on her family and daily routines.
September 11, 2016
This short (23 page) essay was the perfect choice for today. The author is a chaplain who volunteered at Ground Zero in the morgue blessing the bodies, and later the body parts, recovered from the Twin Towers. It is beautifully written, with searing images of what she encountered, the difficulty of the decision to leave her family for midnight to 8:00 a.m shifts at the morgue, and the poignant interactions with other workers.
She talks about a conversation she had with an EMS lieutenant who is having a particularly bad night. "Standing beside the EMS lieutenant, I put my hand on his shoulder. I can feel the angel wings protruding beneath his jacket. Does he know that they are there?"
Thank you Andrea Raynor - thank you for your service, thank you for your beautiful words, and thank you for reminding me, today of all days, that goodness and kindness trump all evil.
She talks about a conversation she had with an EMS lieutenant who is having a particularly bad night. "Standing beside the EMS lieutenant, I put my hand on his shoulder. I can feel the angel wings protruding beneath his jacket. Does he know that they are there?"
Thank you Andrea Raynor - thank you for your service, thank you for your beautiful words, and thank you for reminding me, today of all days, that goodness and kindness trump all evil.
November 2, 2016
Ok as a magazine piece
I actually didn't realize that this was a short story until after I had downloaded it. It was OK, but too short for any real connection to the author or the story.
I actually didn't realize that this was a short story until after I had downloaded it. It was OK, but too short for any real connection to the author or the story.
September 9, 2016
Comforting (even inspirational), insightful, beautifully written, and a point of view I found absolutely compelling.
September 21, 2016
Touching Story
A beautiful piece so touching and real. I love Andrea's writing. The Choice is a great meditation. Let's never forget.
A beautiful piece so touching and real. I love Andrea's writing. The Choice is a great meditation. Let's never forget.
September 14, 2016
Something to ponder
Touches the soul. I read this on 9-12-16, fifteen years after that fateful day. I wonder what my choices would have been on that day.
Touches the soul. I read this on 9-12-16, fifteen years after that fateful day. I wonder what my choices would have been on that day.
September 27, 2016
The choice
I thought this book was very enlightening about the emotions of the people who experienced 9/11 up close and personal.
I thought this book was very enlightening about the emotions of the people who experienced 9/11 up close and personal.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews