|
|
2001-09-12 - 8:06 p.m. In lieu of what has happened, I have found myself doing things I wouldn’t normally do—which I guess is what the norm is for today. There’s a prayer vigil happening at the capitol as I write this. I stood in my bedroom, in barefeet and my pajamas of boxers and a tank top, and sang the “Star Spangled Banner”, not making it all the way through without starting to cry. Then the Pledge of Allegiance. When I was in Catholic school, we began each class with standing at a diagonal, looking to the flag hanging in the corner, and placed our little hands over our hearts and recited the simple poem. I remember when that poem became more politically correct, when they changed “all men” to include all people—“one Nation”. I never really listened to those words when I was a child. Tonight I did. “I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” And I cried more. This has made us all one family. It was only Monday when I felt disconnected from so many people in this country, but now I, we all, are connected. I can almost feel a palpable energy in the air, of people asking God for support and love. And I feel His arms surrounding us as best He can. I’ve always had a strong faith in and love for God. I have called on him many times to help me, my family, or close friends to get through tough times, and also to thank Him for blessing me with such a wonderful family and set of friends. Now I pray for faceless names, and give my trust over to God once more. While some of the praying that is going on publicly appears too Christian-focused, it is still something powerful. Everyone is making a plea in the same direction.
|