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DAVID BENTLEY'S COLUMN |
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REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH
Much of the world will spend this week remembering September 11, 2001. Terrorist attacks that day caught us all by surprise, as thousands of innocent people were killed. That such an event could occur on the soil of a nation that endorses life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is unconscionable. We must appropriately honor those who died, without engaging in the same type of animosity and vengeance that caused their deaths. Tit for tat fighting has killed millions of Muslims and Jews in the Mid-East, Catholics and Protestants in Ireland, and members of criminal gangs throughout the world. Such attempts at getting even never resolve issues, nor do they bring the dead back to life. They only perpetuate hatred and cause more innocent people to die. The memory of 9-11 can keep us focused too much on the past, causing us to become mired in guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness and anger. The memory of 9-11 can also keep us focused too much on the future, causing us to get bogged down in uneasiness, anxiety, tension, stress, worry and other types of fear. While all of these feelings are understandable, hanging onto them will not be helpful. We must focus, now, on the lessons learned from September 11th, and use them in the present moment. We have learned, perhaps for the first time since the Civil War, that even in our homeland we can be vulnerable. We have learned that lives can be taken away without notice, and that we cannot afford to put off spending quality time with those we hold dear. We have learned that there are those willing to give up their own lives and kill innocent people in order to make their views known. We can use these lessons, and others, in positive or negative ways. The choice is up to us, and solutions only occur in the present.
© 2002 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. He can be reached by phone at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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