I filled my Sept 11th day today (24 years later) with work – but not without bracketing my day with memories of that 9-11 morning and of how I dealt with it and how we all did. There was aftermath of the impact and we all deal with the aftermath of the trauma – but at different levels – my memories are vivid – my visits to the reflection pools in NYC years ago were and are heart touching – and my visits to serene displays of distinct pieces of steel, which I have seen in at least three separate memorials, have been all personal to me. Serene from the Serious trauma and drama of the day and time. 

There is something so personal about processing – and about the grief you give up and that which you don’t. It seems that it is appropriate to take some grief around life with you and then again there are times when you are supposed to leave all your grief behind – it is healthier that way – and keep walking forward.

Before work and on my way to the highway, I rode to the small local fire company which holds a small piece of steel. On the glass tower memorial, I found solace and hope in a few red ladybugs walking around – the simple reminder that life continues and that these joybugs were and are on the move in our lives. Maybe I was supposed to see them for myself – or perhaps because I got the unique position to explain about these lady bugs and the memorial and the time I was with my preemie daughter at home that morning – yes explain it all to dozens today – including a work meeting filled with most people not from the greater NYC area as close as we are here… I got to explain that the Lord was helping me focus on my baby in front of me and that we all move forward. The only other mention of 9-11 during the day that I heard was a local radio DJ speaking and playing music in solace – “Imagine” by John Lennon – and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland… I know others remembered, including one veteran in an American flag tie, but mostly this day I felt I had to process in my own thoughts…

I wonder – and I think I know the answer to this – I wonder of the processing of the two disciples whom Jesus walked with, after He rose Easter morning – but they did not know Him – and these disciples, on this walk to Emmaus, would have been processing the events of the three days, and needing to talk it out with someone who was there (each other) while also explaining it to someone they thought “wasn’t” (Jesus in hidden sight).  Then Jesus surely processed too – all knowing – He was helping in processing the revelation of all the scriptures fulfilled from the beginning to the present – revealing how the Messiah fulfilled prophecy and eventually revealing His Holy self while breaking bread – fulfilling the whole reveal revelation to their eyes in their hearts and minds and oh the oh… can you even imagine the “OH!” or maybe they were silent…  All we know is that they listened. And knew: “did not our hearts burn?”…

So – if we have the remembrance of 9-11 – with the vividness – there would only be a fraction of understanding how the walk to Emmaus disciples would have been processing in vividness. Was their “lady bug” that day so visible? Their bug in their ear was no bug – it was Jesus Himself – and their memories of trauma of the death on the cross surely was replaced with the joy of understanding and seeing and knowing and loving and healing and feeling.

We have half the story now with the earthly brokenness here – especially we see this with the tragedies in our broken world – but one day we will see the Lord face to face – and know our tears were collected by God. Jesus revealed with word and love – the disciples absorbed the love and continued to reveal the word.

Now that is processing that we need – and may we find our hope in His Word – Jesus is Alive – and may we keep looking for Him (and those ladybugs)… And may we tell others of our HOPE – (and tell them of the ladybugs too)…

Life continues because Jesus IS

Life moves forward because Jesus lives.

Life is – because Jesus IS.

Keep living – keep loving – even on and especially on 9-11.

Amen

———–

Luke 24 NKJV

He Is Risen
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples’ Eyes Opened
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

The Scriptures Opened
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

The Ascension
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.