Still remembering 9/11...Still hopeful for mankind

I didn't intend to write about 9/11 today...really, I didn't. In fact, I'd forgotten about the anniversary until I woke up this morning to the sight a friend's 9/11 memorial posted on Facebook.

And in that instant, it all came flooding back: the scents and sounds of terror in the immediate hours after the attacks; the intense melancholy for those whose lives had been lost, for the families that had to endure living without them, and for our nation.

I'd like to say it's time to put the terrible events of that day in the past, but I can't make myself feel it. Not yet anyway.

Neither can I forget the way people came together that day, not just in the affected communities, like mine, but across the nation, and world. For every image of a lost loved one, I'd see an image of strangers reaching out to help. It gave me hope during times that felt hopeless.

So now, 12 years later, I continue to pray that some day all people will start to look at each other as children of God, not of a certain religious background, or political affiliation, or race, or age, or gender, or height or weight, or anything other than what God intended for His children.

I know not everyone believes in God or "creator" or "higher power," but I have to believe that most of us want a world of tolerance and understanding toward each other. Most of us want to live in peace.

So in honor of that hope and prayer, I'll end with one of my favorite songs, from one of my favorite groups: Bonjovi performing "Livin' on a Prayer" during the Tribute to Heroes concert at Madison Square Garden in the days following the attack.