Something else

nineleven, originally uploaded by andebos.

"It's a story of hope, survival and selflessness. It celebrates the ties that bind us and the bonds that keep us going. A true story you'd never expect and won't forget."

Yesterday, My friend Sarah and I ventured to the common to finally witness the movie World Trade Center. Since the opening of the trailer it certainly looked compelling. Sarah had her reluctancies as I imagine most of us do....there isn't a lot of time between this movie and the reality of it all. However, perhaps the most compelling part is that the story comes from the desire of the actual survivors. Last night I watched the stories of the men from the website and they both felt their story, and the story of the human race needed to be told while those memories were fresh. The key line of the movie is "The world saw evil that day. Two men saw something else." That's precisely what this movie captures. You walk away at the end quite speechless since you practically relive the events of that day. You see the planes hit, you see the towers crash, people fall, you even experience what it was like inside as the towers crashed for the rough twenty seconds or so...you see the memories the men saw, their fellow brothers dying to save their life, and most inspiring, you constantly see the light, the hands, the hopeful voices calling out, and the thousands of men and women searching for those who survived! Over 2000 individuals from over 80 countries died on that Tuesday...but that isn't the only thing you see, you truly see the best in the spirit of humanity. There's a small dialogue at the end of the movie by Sergeant John McLoughlin. He says something to the effect of seeing men and women from all over coming together to help others, even at the possible sacrifice of their very own lives, without question, just because it was the right thing to do. As these men hope, I hope, that this story truly reaches the generations to come. Perhaps, like Pearl Harbor before, this is one of those days that defines our times and our humanity.

It was also a day that helped me define God. I truly believe that god allows us to make our own choices but likewise influences those of us who believe in him to act according to his desires and love. On this day perhaps the events were destined to happen....was God not present? I believe he was present and just like us, wished it had never happened, and like us - chose to take immediate action. Perhaps evil wanted to triumphy that day...but through love, friendship, family, and the power of people to come together, God redeemed that day to show the might of love in the heart of man, put there by the love of God. A complex issue, but I do believe that day was a hopefully redeemed day.