911

"If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us," President Monson wrote. "We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season." 

-Thomas Monson 

 Washington Post Article

sunday night we wandered downtown with the combs to see ground zero.
the memorial was closed for the night but there was plenty of people mulling around it.
living here now has given 911 new meaning to me. 
I felt like going down to ground zero might in some small way help me focus on the magnitude the day.

we looked in through the gates. still lots of construction...

the freedom towerbeing down there that night was, like always, completely surreal.
// It is without a doubt sacred ground//
 I don't know why, but I was surprised to see there were firemen walking around with teary eyes taking pictures. I guess I assumed they were these brave untouchable heros, but they are just trying to deal with the weight of this whole thing like the rest of us.

 I have the hardest time comprehending the gravity of it all. what it must have been like to run from the collapsing building or accept the fact you were not going to get out.
just thinking about the impact 911 had on one individual overwhelms me. then to think all the pain of that one person that will ripple for generations.
then to multiply that by thousands. I just can't process it all. its impossible.
 I have no life experience that allows me to understand the terror and heartbreak of what  occurred in this place I call my home, ten years ago. 


what I can understand is the gratitude I feel. 
deep, sincere gratitude for heros. in all their shaped and sizes.
for freedom.
for love. 
& for God.