Making Sense of the Senseless

Eighteen years. It’s a short time. It’s a long time. It’s all relative.

In the past I have felt challenged to be mindfully present on 11 September because it felt like if I did not reflect on the events of 11 September 2001, I was dishonoring the memory of those who died in connection with the terrorist acts on this day as well as their survivors and all who stepped up to be a light in the darkness. Remembering does not mean stepping out of the present. My Facebook memories show me 9/11 is one prompt that led me to practicing mindfulness and daily gratitude.

I remember that in the days that followed, I read a handful of posts that were grasping for anything that would make sense of the senseless – anything beyond the obvious answers. Tragedy happens, and we ask “why”. Why did this happen? In searching for the explanation, we arrive at various answers – all relative to who we are and our reason for asking “why”, which is inconsequential unless you plan to take action. Does knowing why tragedy happened do anything more than satisfy curiosity unless you do something with the answer? Does it merely point out the past that cannot be changed? Are you able to handle the response if it leads to pain or a path that you aren’t ready to take?

Agent K: Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.

Men in Black III

I started to ask, “What am I to learn from this? Am I being called to action?” Yes, that’s the ego talking, but that’s why it’s there; and for me, the answer is to honor the memory of those who died through my daily practice of expressing gratitude, telling others how much I appreciate them even for small deeds, and answering my calling:

“Let your light shine. Be a source of strength and courage. Share your wisdom. Radiate love.”

– Wilferd Peterson

We cannot forget what we practice every day or why we do it.

Never forget. Never forgotten.

Luceat lux vestra.