Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal

We must be determined to forgive and diligent to never forget. The truth is when great hurt occurs forgetting may seem as impossible as forgiving; in the case of such tragedies as 9/11, we must never forget, but in all tragedies we must be willing to forgive.

We must not forget that there stands an enemy ready to defeat us if we let our guard down. An enemy who believes there eternal salvation is tied to our obliteration, an enemy who mistakenly believes they have “nothing to lose” and “paradise to gain.” We must never forget the innocent lives taken, lives which would be taken again, if the enemy were given the opportunity. We must never forget that 9/11 was an unprovoked act of war; a war that exists yet to be won either from without or within. We must forget that the absence of violence does not indicate peace; there are attacks in the planning and battles yet to be fought.

We must however, as in all occurrences of hurt also choose to actively forgive. The act of unforgiveness is paramount to one drinking poison in hopes that his enemy will die. Unforgiveness is a dark cancer that eats its host from the inside out. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiveness is not vindication. Forgiveness is letting go of another person’s throat, stepping out of the way and allowing a just and good God to do what is right. Forgiveness is first for the forgiver; love heals, hate destroys. Forgiveness doesn’t lessen the wrong of the offender; it does remove the weight of the offense it from your soul and the gruesomeness of the tragedy from your mind.

So today we remember and vow to stay vigilant. However we vow to stay strong through the righteousness of our own lives and hearts. We remember innocent lives taken; honor heroes taken; we pray for the dark twisted souls who could commit such an act. We vow never to forget. We choose to forgive. And by God’s grace we will continue to stand as one Nation under God. Amen!