On this day of collective recollection, tears will flow and heart may skip a beat. In the silence, let us not lose sight of this opportunity to reflect upon the deep waters that unite all of humanity. For these brief moments of common remembrance, imagine with me a reflection pool wrapped around the Earth’s equator, carving out a common space for healing. And at that place, let us come together and join hands and hearts with people from every land, race and religion. With that vision of harmony encircling this planet we call home, gaze with me into the depths of this reflecting pool and see.

See those whose lives were lost but whose souls are with us always, who touched the world in some unique way before they passed into the next.

See the faces of those who grieve still, whose tears etch out patterns of pain where hope will one day surely take root and birth a joy so long removed.

See the people caught in war-torn regions– those who have lost everything because of atrocities carried out in the name of their religion. See those who have become the innocent victims of sweeping change, revolutions and regime changes.

See the patriots. See those valiant ones who serve to protect. See also those who lost life and limb to preserve peace or liberate those bound by tyranny. Now, see too those beleaguered by the battle, disheartened and disillusioned.

See the mother, father, brother, sister, child. Open your heart and embrace them in their pain.

See  there in the sea of humanity a reflection of your self. Look into your eyes and see you as you were and as you are and as you yet shall be.

See  the ones who carried out horrific deeds – those of that day and those of the days that followed, those who followed blindly and those who plotted and planned, those who knew not what they did and those who knew full well what they were doing as they tore at the fabric with complete disregard for the consequences of their actions to all the world and to themselves.

See all of these and observe all that is mirrored back to you in seeing. The love, the tears, the courage, the loss… See all of these and understand there is no separation, and know that only love can heal our world.

Choose now how you will walk in this world. And remember this place where all hearts are one and waters of healing and forgiveness spring up from a Source so deep here in the desert of all that has been lost. Come and come again. Come, and see. Then, go… go into the world with grace, forgiving and receiving love beyond measure for all that lies ahead.

Peace,
Dawn