How 9/11 Changed My Life
I noticed yesterday many Facebook posts about 9/11, with most saying something to the effect of “We’ll never forget” and “Honor those who died”. Beautiful sentiments and I’m sure very well intentioned. But it got me wondering if that fateful day has truly changed people, and then I contemplated how it has changed me.
The actual day of September 11th has been a hallmark for me for 18 years, as it is my anniversary with my husband. We always used to joke that we’d never forget our anniversary, given the 9-1-1 date. For the first few years after 9/11/2001, it felt weird for us to celebrate, but we tried to anyway.
In many ways, 9/11 was a catalyst for me. Before 9/11, I had a distant relationship with God, not giving much thought to life’s meaning for me. After 9/11, I went searching for answers. Answers to why it happened, and how it happened. Answers to what it meant for me personally. What I discovered was that without a belief in something larger than myself, catastrophes like 9/11 made me feel small, powerless, and afraid.
So I went searching for God again, by visiting the church in Detroit where Marianne Williamson was the spiritual director. I had read her book, “A Return to Love,” and it resonated with me. She spoke often about “A Course in Miracles,” a self-study spiritual curriculum that aims at assisting readers in achieving spiritual transformation. The book describes a non-dualistic philosophy of forgiveness and includes what are meant to be practical lessons and applications for the practice of forgiveness in one's daily life. Marianne’s sermons inspired me and comforted me, and I began to seek out a relationship with God again.
After some time, I actually did “A Course in Miracles” myself, a one-year endeavor, and found that it powerfully changed my beliefs. I learned about the concept of the ego, and personally witnessed what my life is like with it in charge. Since then, I have expanded greatly my concept of God, based on a radical spiritual awakening I experienced 4 years ago while living in California.
So, in essence, 9/11 changed the trajectory of my life, although I personally knew no one who perished. I allowed it to change me, to follow the message I heard from what occurred. And that message has led me to a deeper spirituality and connection to God and my fellow humans.
How about you? How did 9/11 change you?
The actual day of September 11th has been a hallmark for me for 18 years, as it is my anniversary with my husband. We always used to joke that we’d never forget our anniversary, given the 9-1-1 date. For the first few years after 9/11/2001, it felt weird for us to celebrate, but we tried to anyway.
In many ways, 9/11 was a catalyst for me. Before 9/11, I had a distant relationship with God, not giving much thought to life’s meaning for me. After 9/11, I went searching for answers. Answers to why it happened, and how it happened. Answers to what it meant for me personally. What I discovered was that without a belief in something larger than myself, catastrophes like 9/11 made me feel small, powerless, and afraid.
So I went searching for God again, by visiting the church in Detroit where Marianne Williamson was the spiritual director. I had read her book, “A Return to Love,” and it resonated with me. She spoke often about “A Course in Miracles,” a self-study spiritual curriculum that aims at assisting readers in achieving spiritual transformation. The book describes a non-dualistic philosophy of forgiveness and includes what are meant to be practical lessons and applications for the practice of forgiveness in one's daily life. Marianne’s sermons inspired me and comforted me, and I began to seek out a relationship with God again.
After some time, I actually did “A Course in Miracles” myself, a one-year endeavor, and found that it powerfully changed my beliefs. I learned about the concept of the ego, and personally witnessed what my life is like with it in charge. Since then, I have expanded greatly my concept of God, based on a radical spiritual awakening I experienced 4 years ago while living in California.
So, in essence, 9/11 changed the trajectory of my life, although I personally knew no one who perished. I allowed it to change me, to follow the message I heard from what occurred. And that message has led me to a deeper spirituality and connection to God and my fellow humans.
How about you? How did 9/11 change you?
Posted by Stephanie at Monday, September 12, 2011 12:25 PM 
Categories: Happiness
Tags: 9/11 spirituality God A Course in Miracles
Categories: Happiness
Tags: 9/11 spirituality God A Course in Miracles
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