My prayer is simply ...."Peace" ~  j

'ONE'

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down, we became one color. As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building, we became one class. As we lit candles of waiting and hope, we became one generation. As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno, we became one gender. As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength, we became one faith. As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement, we spoke one language. As we gave our blood in lines a mile long, we became one body. As we mourned together the great loss, we became one family. As we cried tears of grief and loss, we became one soul. As we retell with pride, the sacrifice of heroes, we become one people.

We are: one color, one class, one generation, one gender, one faith, one body, one family, one soul, one people, under God. ~ Marlene 

"God Bursts Forth"

'O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted upon us, remember the fruits we brought thanks to this suffering: our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity, the greatness of heart which had grown out of this, and when they come to judgment, let all the fruits which we have borne be their forgiveness. Amen.'

This Prayer can be found in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents in Norwich Cathedral, England. Originally, it was discovered on a piece of wrapping paper in Ravensbruck, the largest concentration camp for women in Nazi Germany. ~ Abbe

"A Call For Small Voices"

A world of strife and sadness do our eyes behold. Hiding from pain in painful things its insanity increases. Each small voice lifted up in reason slows the dizzying spiral. In these calm moments we can see the faces of our Brothers and love them. ~ Laura

We are besieged by a political system whose top priority is "reelection" or "continuation of party power".  This system is outmoded but our two ranking political parties will do all possible to continue it into perpetuity.  We do indeed need "HELP". ~ Harvey

"Sharing Sentiments"

For the first time, I am hearing someone else (beside my husband) express what I have been feeling....so mixed about commemorating Sept 11.  Thank you for your courage of sharing your opinion and for your offer of putting prayers on your website.  Now there's something I can do....and as a matter of fact have been doing each time I meditate....I'm not sure I will have a prayer to contribute, but I have sent the e-mail on to a spiritual group of which I am a part and I believe there will be folks from there who will want to send a prayer.  I have also asked at South Church about what they will be doing on Sept 11....no answer yet....but it would be delightful to ring the bell there too!  We'll see what happens.

Again, thanks, and metta, ~ Joanne

"The People"

I admit to being concerned the "chosen people" idea which suggests to me that if some are the chosen than others are the un-chosen. That is un-acceptable to me because the next step from un-chosen is perhaps dispensable. Our only hope lies in understanding that we are all alike. On "Frontline" last evening a great deal was made of the idea of using a plane to crash into a building and kill so many innocent people is somehow a new high, or low, in evil acts. Hmm, how soon we forget the Enola Gay. Or perhaps that was okay because we were doing what was right and the Japanese civilians were the un-chosen?  When is wholesale killing of innocents right for any reason?  ~ Dick

May this Bell be a wake-up call throughout our small and comparatively safe and secure town and surrounding neighborhoods. For all to hear: the schools, the businesses, the people driving to who-knows-where. This reverberation, for all ages able to hear, will be an offer to take pause and to listen to their own heart, whisper their Prayer.

May this Bell be heard or better yet, understood for all willing to be awake and open. An opportunity is offered to see with the mind's eye, the truth in the fact that the very escalation that our government proposes and continues to threaten, is exactly the opposite approach to what can bring resolution.

May this Bell be a communication for stopping the hate and to cease the violence. Our governments approach is the worst kind, because it is both ego based and fear based. Aggression has never worked and can never lead to Peace for all peoples. It's very much like a train steaming down the track, heading into a tunnel that has not yet completed construction. In the end of this ride, we will only arrive in what will become a tomb for all of Humanity.

May this Bell be the call for justice, the echo for harmony and the peal for Peace throughout all the lands of our fragile Mother Earth. Some people believe we are not the chosen ones. In truth, this time we are the chosen people. If you believe "not us", then I ask, Who? If you believe "not on September eleventh", then I ask, When?  Namasté  ~ John