I am a priest. It is my duty, my responsibility, to stand firm and provide consolation at times such as these-to explain the complexities of God's will, to place great tragedies within perspective, to strengthen the heart and ease the burden of the suffering. I am sorry, I have little to offer. As the day has progressed, I have moved from shock to anger to terrible sorrow. There will be a time for anger. There will be a time for righteous vengeance. It is not yet that time. Let us grieve, let us tend to our own. In my mind, I know that without transience, there is no meaning, that all things work towards the greater good, that it is in time of tragedy like these that men are made great. The evil which lives within the hearts of mankind is no surprise, no secret. The vast majesty of the human spirit rises to meet it and, through travail, we overcome it. In my mind, I know this. In my heart, I am not so sure. I have seen greatness this day--rescue workers exhausted beyond conscious thought returning to the ruble of the fallen Towers, risking personal danger well beyond reason, the hijacked pilots who appear to have deliberately crashed to avoid a larger tragedy, an America (and a Canada, indeed, as word spreads, much of the world) which has drawn together to condemn the evil which has been done and stand by to render any and all assistance. When I saw, before my very eyes, the second Tower collapse with emergency personnel inside, I could not, would not, comprehend the horror. And when the survivors set themselves aside and returned to the gruesome work, I was shamed by their nobility. This is a time of heroes. Our nation will survive, wounds will heal and the fear will pass. The foundations of truth and justice, the nobility and honor of the human soul, are too strong to be deterred by cowardice and evil. Not today, not ever. In my head, I know these things. For now, in these times of dark sorrow, let our minds comfort our hearts. Let us give honor to those men and women who stand upon the front lines of this clear war between good and evil, who are become heroes in spite of themselves. Let us cling to our families and our friends until our feet are set and our minds are clear. My sincere condolences to those who have lost family and friends. For all of us, I offer my prayers and what small comfort I may. With love, M. Keaton ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
