Today is the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. I thought I’d write some thoughts down (for myself) that are based in lessons learned or things hoped to live into as a result of how the world has changed. These are the creeds I am choosing to live by as a follower of Jesus in a post 9/11 world. (of course these are aspirational as well as actual…what’s the point in just writing about what I’m doing well with?)

I choose to live free of fear 

Fear seems to be one of the most powerful tools being used against us. Fear of the unknown. Fear of people who look different. Fear of failure. Fear of whatever the news is peddling to get ratings. Fear of death. Fear of terror. Fear of fear.

Fear can be crippling and debilitating. It can stop us in our tracks. We won’t go here or there because of fear. We won’t welcome the stranger because of fear. We won’t trust who we really are with others because of fear. We won’t forgive others because of fear of being hurt again. It could go on and on…and often does.

In light of the reality that Jesus has said ‘Fear not, because I am with you until the end of the age…” I need to take a look at the fears that I allow to hinder me. Fear of failure. Fear of being irrelevant. Fear of being judged. Fear of rejection. My list goes on and on too…

In a post 9/11 world we are sold fear…and it’s a powerful sales pitch. But I choose to not let the powers that be of this world control me because I choose to live in freedom and courage. I choose to open my life to love, beauty, grace, hope, adventure, and joy. I will not allow the poison of fear to rob me of these things…and ultimately rob me of living the life of faith that I want to live.

I choose to celebrate life

Our country has been in various wars almost my whole life (or at least the threat of war), but none have been as center stage to me as the one that has lasted the last decade. On September 11, 2001 we saw the beauty of life violated in one of the worst ways. And it hasn’t stopped. The death toll as a result of the war on terror is sickening…many people, Americans and non-Americans alike, were innocent and the place they met their earthly end was not their choice.

Something in me truly hates this loss of life. Regardless of what side of the battle lines one is one. Something in me calls to me, “This is not the way it was meant to be.” Because this is not the way it was meant to be.

In the creation story in the Bible the only thing our Creator describes as ‘very good’ is human life. It is the only thing he chose to make in His image. The thought of one image-bearer betraying the life of another in any context is hard for me. Even in heinous circumstances I can’t rejoice in death…I feel hurt even when people reap what they sow…because I can almost imagine what life would be like if they had chose to sow something different.

9/11 has revealed to me the beauty of life. We even got a glimpse of this beauty in tragedy as we watched people willingly sacrifice their lives for another. (what a contrast…people taking life vs others sacrificing life) When life is lived sacrificially for another, in even the smallest of ways, we get glimpses of the beauty that this life was meant to be. These are shadows of the greatest sacrifice that Jesus willingly made…His great story is even great when we live it out in our unique ways. Jesus said that the things that His disciples (us) would do would be even greater than what he did…

So it’s because of this that I honor life…it’s beauties make me long for more…and it’s pains make me hunger for the perfection that Jesus has made a future reality.

I choose to let go of control

I’ve watched a lot of things about the attacks on September 11th. And one thing is abundantly clear: the people of New York did not see it coming. How could they? How could we? It’s just too awful to even imagine…much less to see and experience as some of my friends have.

This is true of most tragedies in life…we don’t see them coming. Despite our best efforts at control, we have to admit, we are not in control. My problem, as I’ve realized over the past couple of years, is that I’m a control freak. When it comes to the world around me, I like to be in the pilot’s seat, the cockpit, and behind the wheel….and sometimes navigating too.

But how can I live under the illusion of control after seeing what happened 10 years ago? I have to come to terms with this, I’m not in control of my own fate.

So where does that leave me? The opposite of control is not apathy…I say it’s active trust. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to do good and to trust God with my life…this means taking risks and trusting in God’s goodness. If I really believe in a good God, then I don’t merely resign myself to this, I rejoice in this. I would choose no other way even given the choice. (I think:)

So in a post 9/11 world I choose to give up control and the shades of control that I think that I can influence. Our world is bigger than I can see, and I can trust that the One whose eyes are big enough to see it all is watching over me.

I choose to put my faith in the Kingdom of Heaven

Since 9/11 the kingdoms of the world have been fighting…a lot. The US has been in the middle of a lot of it. From the UN to Iraq, and from Afghanistan to France, the US has had a lot of conflict. And not just about terror…also about money. Our world is in upheaval (and has been for a long time and will be until the end of this age).

I choose to believe to step back from the title of ‘American’ for a moment to see that I wear a greater title: Follower of Jesus, Child of God, Heir in God’s Kingdom, Ambassador of God’s Kingdom. Because of these greater titles I can’t allow my ‘lesser-than’ titles to dictate the way I live out the others. This isn’t because I don’t honor the United States or because I don’t like the United States. It’s just that the title of ‘US citizen’ gets lost in the light of the other identities that I have in Jesus. In fact, all other identities get lost in comparison.

So to that I say, I choose not to put my faith, belief, hope, or passion into any particular ‘kingdoms’ of this world…I choose to put my faith in the only Kingdom that has the power to bring peace, heal, forgive, give grace, give meaning, give hope, bring life, and unending joy…the one where Jesus is at the helm guiding us towards all the good that God has for the world.