A Day That Defines Us

This is a difficult day for many Americans. It is hard to not re-experience some of the emotions that we felt while watching the events unfold five years ago. If you need help just turn on Fox News or CNN and you can literally relive it today. I find it a little disheartening since it seems our country has many more enemies now but perhaps the general public is just more awake to what is going on in the world. In any case, one phrase has stuck with me in the time since September 11, 2001:

"Our Hearts Are Broken, But Our Spirit Is Not"

Below is an excerp of a personal email I’ve hung on to over the years. I’m not sure if the writer thought about the lasting impact it has had on me but he is wiser than he knows. I think it is worth sharing with you guys.

The events of the past week and our individual and collective reaction may shape your futures in disproportionate ways. Unfortunately, emergencies, wars, civil unrest and fallout from outrageous acts are defining our existence now as much as considered thought and planning. While people are fond of referring to catch lines like “necessity of being the mother of invention”, such notions miss the importance of maintaining the peaceful, nurturing environment that actually spawns the opportunity unique to our society that, like good health, goes largely unappreciated until it is gone or threatened.

In the scheme of things, the murderous acts of last week are reminders of our flaws and a wake up call to decent human values that atrophy without extreme external influences. There are microcosms of distressing events that I see almost daily in my practice. All too often people shrink and react in a disappointing manner even by their own standards. This is not a time for reaction; rather it is a time for reflection and careful direction of the abundant wisdom and resources that are ours. I hope you all will use your good common sense and intelligence to keep a balanced and critical perspective about the big question of what is now to be done. I’m concerned about the flag waving, vengeful attitude that is popular politically, but more in vogue than ingrained. It comes without deep resolve this is required to carry out the underlying message – eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. One writer recently noted the end game there is to be blind and toothless. If we take the time necessary to envision and understand clearly we will ultimately benefit and enjoy our souls and our sustaining freedoms. Further sacrifice by loss of life is not the answer and it is as easy to see as looking at the losses in New York.

Keep your minds and hearts pure and intact – the world is too often impressed with zealots who would dictate our existence and shape us in their mold in order to achieve acceptance. The threat of such influence is constant and the only practical cure is in our deep and resilient resolve to stay the course or reaffirm why we are bothering with life and living and dying to begin with.

I hope this note has been as cathartic and confusing for you as me. Stay focused on the issues because the clouds are likely to be heavy for a while. Foggy, but slowly clearing later in the decade. I wish I could make it easier for you all, but old men have such foolish ideas that really make things more difficult. The trick is to survive the bumps and develop your own fortitude and character so the bumps are easier because of who you really are and not what I wish.