After watching many September 11th video replays, I thought of my memory of people saying, weeks and months later that “I miss us as a community being September 12th people”… yes, the day after when we were picking up the pieces and each other…

Yes, September 12th 13th 14th… 2001… etc… for the next few weeks and months we looked to each other for comfort, for understanding (which there was and is little in a devastating tragedy like that), and we also looked at the people helping and we became helpers too, in processing and donations. Surely we held our family more dear, we were more somber and polite, and we rallied around and we built and rebuilt community just as the rubble removed from the crash sites, the phoenix rose from the ashes just like the beautiful Oculus metro station, if you’ve been there, it’s gorgeous rising, just as new buildings rose, just as the water pool installations were placed for memorial and a place of reflection. People who don’t know each other gather as community. And those who did know each other came to churches – and rallied each other  – comforted – and asked God “why?” – and stayed in community for a while… solace in sincerity in community…

One of my favorite Mister Rogers’ sayings is that his mother always said: “in the middle of a tragedy, look for the helpers” – and oh yeah, Sept 12th, that brought community – I know somebody who lived on Long Island as a specialized surgeon and yet as any medical professional, they were sent to ground zero to try to help with recovery, but there was nothing they could do. They couldn’t apply their specialized skill set to that situation. However, they could bring us a first hand account of the situation. Then there were chefs, celebrity chefs, who brought their whole restaurant crews and food supply and cooking and continually served the first responders and the workers for months. There were musical celebrities who put together concerts for fundraising. And surely my favorite Bruce Springsteen song called “The Rising” detailed the flight and plight of first responders, firemen rising up the stairs. While everybody else was getting out, and then surely rising up to Heaven as those towers fell. Jesus reached and they rose.

The firefighters did not hesitate, because that was what they did in community. And still live in community and for community.

And that could be our reminder every September to re-start and re-join community.

We do need each other – when Mister Rogers says “look for the helpers” – that could be us – we could be the helpers too. We are to keep the Lord’s commandments and step into this life as His Hands and Feet – and abide in doing what He calls us to do – and listen for the Holy Spirit:  “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” 1st John 3:24

So – COMMUNITY – may we continue in community today – and remember that we are not alone here on earth – even if we belong to our heavenly home – we are to be His community here on earth. THE SPIRIT WILL GUIDE US!

Amen

These are the lyrics of part of the song “The Rising”:

Can’t see nothing in front of me
Can’t see nothing coming up behind
Make my way through this darkness
I can’t feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I’ve gone
How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed
On my back’s a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder, a half-mile line
[Chorus]
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight

—

1st John 3:10-24 NKJV

The Imperative of Love
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.