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What Light Has Appeared Out of the Darkness?

By Debbie Milam, OTR, reprinted with permission

When many people die in a catastrophe, whether from natural disaster, plane crash, or terrorist attack, each family must adjust in its own way, over a long period of time. However, their collective response can either tear survivors apart or bring them together. And in many ways our country came together after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

This poem by Debbie Milam (originally titled "Out of Darkness") explores our general response at that time. Today many of us have slowly retreated from our determination immediately after those first days and weeks to be different than we were before that date. As you read this, notice whether that is true for you, whether you have allowed the strengths you found because of that event to slowly erode. What qualities would you like to remember and reinforce today?

September 11, the day darkness fell over our land, terror filled our streets and fear overtook our hearts. Collectively we faced our mortality, our vulnerability, and our fragility. But out of the darkness appeared a bright light, the light of God, the light of hope, the light of unity.

What was meant to weaken our people strengthened our determination.

What was meant to cripple us economically, lead to more giving than ever before.

What was meant to instill fear, allowed our bravest of heroes to shine.

Let us not forget that out of the darkness appeared a bright light.

What was meant to separate us, brought us together in unity.

What was meant to disorient us, realigned our values.

What was meant to disempower us, gave us strength of spirit.

Let us not forget that out of the darkness appeared a bright light.

What was meant to crumble our structures, strengthened our character.

What was meant to detach us from our loved ones, brought us closer to our families.

Let us not forget that out of the darkness appeared a bright light.

What was meant to fill our minds with anger, opened our hearts with gratitude.

What was meant to invoke terror, lead to extraordinary acts of kindness.

What was meant to dissolve our faith brought us closer to God.

For what develops out of the darkness is often the brightest light of possibilities.

Although the images 9/11 will forever be imprinted upon our soul, let us remember the lessons of this day. The lessons of what truly is important; courage, strength, serving others, faith, but most of all love. Let us not forget to count our blessings, to forgive those who makes us angry, to say I love you, to honor each others differences. Let us not forget the day we all as a world came together as one. Let us not forget that out of the darkness appeared a bright light. For if we forget the lessons of this day those who died, died in vain.

Today we look within our hearts and souls and find the lessons we learned from 9/11. We pray for divine protection and peace throughout the world. We rediscover the light that carried us through the most profound time in our history and we now use it to guide our lives and the choices we make. Together we can help create a world of peace, unity, and love.

—© Copyright Debbie Milam, reprinted with permission.

Debbie Milam is an occupational therapist, author and motivational speaker. She has created Moments of Joy Spiritual Exercise Cards; the E-books, How to Bring Light to the Darkness, Blissful Sleep; and Journey Into Healing meditation tape. Her products and services can be found at her website.