The Value of 9-11

Today marks the tenth year of one of the most horrific events of our times.  The aftermath by which provided everyone of a clear picture of what it is to stare in the eyes of terror.  And for a lot of people, not event time can erase the pain and scars that this incident had brought to them.  I pray for each and every soul whose life was changed by this in one way or the other and hope that someday they would learn to eventually realize the reason of why this had happened. 

In one of the sessions in Igor Lechowski’s Money in your Mind Seminar, he had introduced the “Value Game” wherein participants are asked to find value in anything that they might come to think of.  From a simple item such as a piece of paper to an event such as the Tsunami that hit Japan.  This serves as an exercise for each individual to broaden their minds and shift their thinking into seeing the value of things that they encounter.  In line with commemorating September 11, I would like to put myself in the situation of playing the value game and provide you ten things I could think of as the value of 9-11.  I’ve listed them out below at no particular order.

Top 10 Things of Value Out of 9-11

1)  Heroism Reborn – each and every volunteer who risked their lives to save a fellowman gave us a picture of what a hero is.  Every individual involved in the fight against terror, is indeed a hero.  9-11 had taught us that we have the choice to go a heroes path and do our part.

2) That this did not happen to a less capable country. – I do not wish for this to happen to any country but just imagine if this had happened to a 3rd would country?  Would that country ever pick up itself as fast?

3)  The event led to learning and change – the changes brought about tighter security measures.  For every mistake that led to that fateful day to happen, the mistakes were identified and now remedied.

4) People have become more educated – people are now made aware of what is happening and what could happen.  People are given more options because of this.

5) Brought about freedom from internal oppression – Afghanistan and Iraq had their internal oppressors brought down as an effect of 9-11.  A similar sentiment now grows in other countries where people are now starting to become empowered to fight this kind of oppression.

6)  Brought emphasis to how each individual affects one another – one person was identified as the mastermind of 9-11 and became the poster-boy of terror.  Just imagine the effect this one person has.  This same concept applies for every positive an individual brings to this world.

7) Unity for a cause and not at a cost – People are now becoming more proactive and uniting to move towards a specific cause that would benefit all.  And not just let things to happen and act on a cost.

8)  Realization of a life borrowed and a life worth living.- that in a single day the life lost is so significant, we can only think that what He gave to us, He can take anytime.  So we must let every moment count and live as if it is our last.

9)  Rights, Race, Religion and Reasons – Several issues and topics has been presented as an outcome of 9-11.  Topics that touch one’s individuality and choice.  Each one of us are given freewill and choice.  And it is up to us to make the right choices.

10) Love Renewed – the point wherein all of us are most affected by this is because of our love for our fellowmen.  And sometimes it takes a great loss to realize the things that you love.

I have never wished for September 11 to happen, nor do I wish for it to occur again.  But it did happen, and our lives will be forever changed because of it.  But will we let ourselves forever suffer ,as what those who pushed for this to happen wanted to? Or do we understand that this event had happened and learn from the why’s of it?  For each and every person who is still in pain, my hopes and prayers go out to you.

“The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.” – Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Spanish writer, author of the masterwork 'El quijote', 1547-1616)

Scarred People Are Beautiful

Let me share with you one of the stories that was relayed to us in a “Retreat” I ad attended a long time ago.  The story goes something like this:

Eversince I could remember, I’d open my eyes everyday and I find myself standing in the middle of this vast hayfield.  I do enjoy this peace and quiet,without a bother in the world.  Then one day out of nowhere, I see this old bloke standing in front of me.  He circled me as if he was looking for something that I had taken.  What made matters worst was he slid his cold rough hands across as if measuring how angry I would get.  And as if nothing happened, he walked away and vanished from my view. I had never felt more violated in my life.  How I wished I would never see that man again. 

Weeks passed since that encounter and I was enjoying my usual afternoon, when out of nowhere “Ouch what the F*CK!”. I felt a sharp thump on my backside, a pain that I had never felt before.  This was followed by another stab on the opposite side,  IT WAS THE MAN! He thumped a stab at me several times more at different directions.  Over and over again, he would just stop and pause to step back and view the damage that he was doing. I could not wipe away his grin from my mind.  He had the look of satisfaction from my demise.  And he continued with the hell he brought to me until I just saw darkness.

I woke up aching all over, as if I was rolled over by a boulder.  Each wound as painful as the other still aching in unison.  And as I look down I could not express the horror of seeing the rest of ME scattered on the ground.  Oh how I prayed that that be the last I see of the man.  Unfortunately it seemed I did not pray hard enough.  I could not imagine how sadistic a person can be.  Causing more wounds on top of fresh ones.  I hated the MAN for what he was doing.  I hated MYSELF for letting this happen.  I hated EVERYTHING!.  And still the man kept on.

The routine went on for days, as days went into weeks and weeks into months.  I was full of spite towards the man.  I did not know hom I was able to hate someone so much. But I did.  Everyday a new pain, as if he was not satisfied until he riddled every inch of my body with hurt.  And how I despised his grin, I wanted to knock that smug grin everytime he stopped to stare at his handiwork. I had started to accept my fate and let things be.  I would learn to accept the pain and hope that the man will get his fix, leave and let me be. 

Then one day as I was anticipating for the next blow to come, the man suddenly stopped.  He stepped away a few steps and starred.  I did not see the usual annoying grin that I usually see on him,but more a look and a smile of a person with a satisfied whim.  Could it be that he already has his fix and that he would let me be?  Oh please let this be the case.  And when I was just about to let down my guard, a thick wool cloth engulfed me.  I could feel that I was being lifted off the ground.  “No, no, NOOOOOO!!!”.

Wasn’t it enough that he had caused me pain for several months day in day out?  That he had to subject me to the most that I can bear? And now he had to move me away from the place that I had known as my home for the longest time.  When will he ever stop?” When will he stop terrorizing me? When will my scars heal?

We had travelled some great distance when I felt that I was being put down.  I had sensed that wherever he had brought me was different from the place that I have known all my life.  I could hear a mob of anxious people now.  “Oh is this the end of me?” I felt like each and every person was just waiting for the wool cloth to be removed for them to have a go at me. 

And as the wool cloth was lifted and as I anticipated the next set of jabs.  What happened was far from what I had expected.  The mob that I had though was there to finish me off was there staring back at me. Its so hard to describe the look in their eyes, but the nearest word would be “awestruck”.  I could hear the words, “beautiful”, “magnificent”, “inspiring”, “masterpiece” in the gaps as the crowd rang with applause as they looked at me in amazement. 

I was dumbstruck at what just happened, until in the not so far distance, two men carrying a full length mirror passed by in front of me and I stared back at the most beautiful marble statue anyone can lay their eyes on.  What used to be that thick slab of rock standing in the middle of the hayfield, is now a town’s centerpiece, showing what beauty is.  And I realized from that day on, that each and every scar that that man had left on me, is what had made me beautiful.

Thank You For Today

A prayer to the Almighty as I start the day today. I thank You for another day and another chance to give my best. I thank You for allowing me to open my eyes and see the beautiful treasures who were sleeping beside me. For giving me my wonderful wife who gave me a massage last night to ease my body pains, and for these two little tykes who even at their most playful state still manages to relieve me of stress. This I am thankful for.

For my health, my well being, my ability to choose, and the air I breathe in, I thank You. I offer my day's activity all up to You. May you help me see the value in what I do and help me provide value in what I offer.

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