There are so many thoughts that are running through my head and emotions through my heart. Memories, reactions at the time, thoughts now, emotions that are residual, all are swimming inside of of me being stirred up on this 10th anniversary of that fateful day.
I can mark this day 10 years ago as the turning point in my theology and politics. As a junior in high school, I began truly embracing a more liberal open way of life. I opened myself to many and all experiences I could. Instead of holding fast to what I "knew" was right and true, I questioned all of it. I effectively got kicked out of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes because I questioned and voiced my different beliefs of God. I ostracized myself by sharing my political beliefs which were much more liberal than those around me.
Now as an adult, I look back at both 9/11 and the OKC bombing. I look at the reasons and responses to both events. Timothy McVeigh may not have been a suicide bomber fighting for Allah, but both parties that attacked on US soil did so to bring the US to its knees. Neither did. Before you start to think that I'm getting all "Merica!" don't worry; I'm not. There are so many things that I am not happy with in this country. However, our people, all within our borders, are a different story. There are many who believe that all Muslims are extremists fighting against us subversively, but there are many more who embrace the diversity of this nation, who open their arms and hearts to their neighbors no matter who they call God or who they love.
In OKC, people responded to our tragedy with love and open arms and hearts. The phrase 'Oklahoma Standard' was coined because we showed a new level of care and compassion after the bomb ripped through our city. On September 11, 2001, our care and concern didn't waver. It carried itself to New York. We showed the world how people freshly hurt can respond with love, how love is so engrained in our being that it is the only reaction that prevailed at the moment.
How we move forward now in the next 10 years is what's important. Do we open ourselves up to love our neighbors, or do we go right back to how we lived prior to this event? That decision is on each of us.
This is probably a to be continued...
