Today is Sept. 11, now designated as America's Patriot Day in remembrance of those--almost 3,000-- who died in the 2001, Sept. 11 attack. Patriot Day has become a call to a day of service to the country and/or the larger collective Good, in the spirit of those who gave their lives in service and sacrifice during and after the attack. Today we are are called to both remember and 'give back'. The horror and tragedy of Sept. 11 united America. Now 21 years later, during 2 1/2 years of Pandemic, we have lost over 1 million people to Covid-19, and witnessed great sacrifices from essential workers and medical staff who have served the emergency needs of the country, yet we face increasing division in our country. Today is a day to remember 'giving back', in a way that defines unity. Prayer is one way, a cooperative spirit is another. We don't need to think so much of grand gestures of remembrance and service; it is the intent of gratitude and unity that matter here. That intent may also tug at you to forgive.
Here in Southern California we have come through another kind of test of unity and cooperation in the face of climate change. The extreme heat wave created a power grid emergency, which threatened the state's electricity supply to its limit. On Tuesday, my cellphone set off the alarm for emergency notifications from the state with a warning that if power usage continued to rise, rolling black outs would begin. The alert urged residents to take all possible measures to conserve electricity during the peak hours of 4-9 p.m. The instructions were respectful, clear cut, with links to specific data on the threat, and gently acknowledged that those with health issues might not be able to comply. In our household, we immediately switched off appliances and brainstormed how to work around inconveniences. The alerts were sent to 39 million people. Power usage plunged immediately! Rolling black-outs were avoided. Daily alerts continued through the week and so did immediate public response. As the weather shifted with Hurricane Kay's landfall and the heat receded, critics began their complaints. But in those days of clear information and an appeal to collective effort, there was really no space, no time for division. I'm sure there was grumbling and some wounds to entitlement, but the power of agreement, unity, and respect prevailed.
A mature concept of service includes understanding that the good of the whole, includes our good. Spiritually, this is not really about self sacrifice; the boundary of self doesn't shrink--it expands to Allness. (Susan Nettleton)
For a memorial perspective from Juan Ramon Jimenez (scroll to bottom for English translation), https://heardatdawn.blogspot.com/.../remordimiento-or...