9/11: Ten Years Later

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:43-48

Dear God,

Ten years have passed since this fateful day for America. When I look back over this decade I can’t help but wonder how things would have been different if we would have followed your instructions.


What would the world be like if we did our best to love our enemies?

What does that mean? What is the difference between loving our neighbors and protecting ourselves? Do we turn the other cheek to the point where we let our enemies continually hurt us?

I’m not sure God. All I know is that it doesn’t even seem like we tried to love or even understand. We didn’t reach out to build bridges; we just dropped bombs on them. What do you think of our behavior, our choices, and our actions? I can’t help but to think that much of our current struggles were born out of or reluctance to see our enemies as our friends. It’s just that it is such a hard thing to do.

God I pray that you help us in these next ten years to be better at following your commandments. Please help us to understand how to show love to our enemies. Help us to understand them and, if it is your will, find ways to turn these enemies into friends. I believe this will be a powerful way that we can honor the lives lost over the past decade, on both sides.

I will do my best to live this out every single day with the decisions that I make. I believe in your Word and that your truth has the power to set us all free.

Thank you God for your patience, love and understanding with your flawed children. We aren’t perfect but we’ll try to be better.


In the name of Jesus, Amen


Food for Thought: How do you think the world today would be different if we decided to love our enemies after the 9/11 attacks? Is this command too much to ask?