We Will Remember Them...(a not so ordinary memorial)

Today in NZ it is the 12th of September but in Americaland it is the 11th. September 11. Will that day ever mean anything else except death and fear?

I remember being at school on this day 12 years ago (has it really been that long) and hearing, incorrectly, that America had been bombed. The rest of the day went out the window as we sat in our classes glued to the tv watching repeats of the crashes, then people jumping out of windows to escape the fire. The images are burned into my memory and still make me feel physically ill.

Years on now and my view on this historic event has changed. 

It is still disgusting, barbaric and gut wrenching.

It is still a day that is worth remembering.

But as my understanding of world politics has grown so has my compassion for people that I never thought I would have compassion for.

So today I would like to add my own memorial.

"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

Today as we remember the planes crashing into buildings I choose to remember the plane hijackers who chose to kill innocent people. I choose to remember all those who have been subjected to brainwashing and have hurt themselves and others in a deluded attempt to do the right thing. I choose to remember their hate, and I chosoe to forgive it as Christ forgave those who nailed him to a tree and then jeered at him as he died.

As we remember the flames that burned with enough force to melt a building I choose to remember those in every country who have burned in the fires of war and terror. I choose to remember Americans, Afghani's, Iraqians, Iranian, Syrians, Pakistanis, African and South American Nations, and every other people, person, mother, child, father, brother, sister, wife, husband who has instigated or been the victim of war and hatred. I choose to pray for those who kill and those who are killed that the justice of God might be known throughout the world and God's peace may reign over all.

As we remember those that were crushed in buildings that came down on top of them, I choose to remember those that see their way of life destroyed in front of them and have no money to rebuild. I choose to remember those that are poor and helpless and do not have an economy or a government that will help them with medical costs and welfare. I choose to remember the parents who watch their children starve because they have been forgotten by the people with money and power. I pray that they may know that God is with them in their suffering, that Jesus suffered as they suffered, that he had no home or income and that he loves them and will wipe their tears from their eyes.

As we remember the nationalism that swept America after the fateful events of September 11 I choose to remember those that are in nations that use nationalism to wage wars and incite the people to hatred. I choose to remember the conditions and environments that breed young people and teach them to hate those from other countries and different religions. I remember those that have never heard of the gospel of peace and instead chose revenge and murder. I pray that God will forgive them, and that they will learn to turn from what they do.

I will remember them.

All of them.

Not Like You (A Reflection on Racism)

You say they are not like you.

Why is that?

Is it because of skin colour

That they are not black?

Or because they aren't white it must mean they are poor

And you cannot relate to those people which

Struggle to provide everyday

For their families and children

Or those with no pay?

Does it make a difference to you

To know they have struggled?

That they have been brought low,

Financially humbled?

Does it matter if you're Caucasian,

Not Black, brown or Asian?

Can we not be family if we are not the same colouring?

That Indian woman in the diary I see every morning

Se is my sister, struggling

To feed her family though she works seven days

Treated like a machine because of her race.

That mid twenties Polynesian male on the tv

Who stole, fought, or some other stupidity

He is my brother, hurting

For lack of education and parenting

Treated like another statistic of our society.

A young teenage mum on the bus

Who we look down our noses at,

She is my sister, working

At being a child and a mum

Treated like a stupid ignorant bum.

Then there is the Asian couple

That get screamed at in the street

They are my family, lonely

Needing friends for their second daughter, that they refused to abort,

Treated like invaders who should be fought.

They may not be white but they are the same

They cry and they bleed and they carry their shame

Deep inside and act tough on the exterior

While we white folk act all superior

Because we aren't the minority

We 'belong' here

And secretly wish they, and their problems, would disappear.

You say they are not like you,

In some ways that is true

But I hold a truth that I want to share with you.

In Christ there is no black, white, Christian or Jew

There is only salvation and blessing too.

I am like you, I am human

I just look in a different direction.

Turn your eyes with me to behold him

And you will see

We are not that different.