We have not forgotten what happened on September 11 in our recent past.

It is not a day to be angry, vengeful, or superior. It is a day to mourn again and to be solemn, grateful, respectful, and thoughtful. 

It is a day to love and to remember.

Some people with evil motives and distorted understanding of their own faith traditions, did and evil deed, but it is not a day to remember them.

We remember those who, thought they loved life, rushed into burning buildings to save lives of strangers.

We remember how strangers became brothers and sisters.

I remember where I was when the first hint of news came across the wave via NPR. I remember my thoughts.'

I remember how we came together and put our differences aside. As Randy Sparks wrote in a song, "On September the 11th, we became just Americans."

Of course, it is true that people from all over the world of different cultures, religions, and convictions died.

I remember how some folks said that nothing would ever be the same again … but they are in most ways except the ways that time and progress change everything.

Then, we started using the tragedy to move from being a people who valued freedom above everything else to being a people who would surrender freedom for safety and security.

And we started a couple of wars, at least one clearly in response to a very real threat of terrorism in the world.

And we started rethinking the meaning of our Constitution – not that we shouldn't from time to time. We just need to hold on to what is true and just and good.

And we started bickering again.

Yet, we have not forgotten.

We are not exactly sure what the lessons were, but we learned what it meant to share a common heartbeat and a common heartbreak.

We remember what it was like to deeply care about one another.

We remember what it was like, for a moment, to respect our leaders, They respect us and each other for a season. We gave them a great deal of leeway and trust along with much prayer.

What stands out for me in my memory is a heightened value for the heroes among us, in and out of uniform who are willing to lay down their lives for others. Many of these are still placing themselves in daily harm's way daily.

We flew flags.

We sought the comfort of God and of one another.

We sang together, mourned together, and worked together.

We can remember, but we cannot be defined by tragedy. Nor can we live in a perpetual state of emergency.

The world is dangerous. Horrible things could happen. We could all die — but that is not the most important thing.

The most important thing is whether or not we will choose to live, and to live as free people until we die.

Will we love each other?

Will we pray when we are not in crisis?

Will we show each other respect?

Will we be "just Americans" and not blue or red or whatever that is and whatever that means?

Will we labor for justice, for peace, and for equality?

Will we work to create a community where love is the great rule of life?

Will we follow the path of our faith passionately and with conviction without deriding the faith or lack thereof of other?

Will we be patient and celebrate rate our humanity?

Will we look for ways to build bridges and tear down walls between people?

Will we gain from our differences and the uniqueness of our neighbors?

Will we learn the joy of welcoming and neighboring?

Will we be more generous and less territorial?

Will we protect our freedom by exercising it?

Will we weep with those who weep and laugh with those who laugh.

Will those who like me, follow Jesus in the midst of the culture, truly follow by loving our neighbors and seeking God's kingdom and righteousness? May we do so, not with pride, arrogance, rudeness, or exclusiveness, but grace and acceptance?

May we all live out our deepest convictions.

May we remember cognitively and with affect what it can mean when we are less concerned about what divides us and more concerned with helping each other make it through a tough day.

If we will remember, then we can commit to being our best as Americans and working together for common good.

For now, let us pause to remember.