The day is locked in our memory: 9/11. What a horrible day. We did not know what was happening. We knew someone was attacking us and wondered what was coming next. Where would it stop, or would it? Life changed for us. Terrorists had brought destruction to our shores. Many alive today were not born when 9/11 happened. It is difficult to describe the fear and dread. I worked at the University. Was terrorism coming there? Attacked? In the years following, we had threat-level color codes. They were difficult to keep up with. Flying was an exercise in everyone assessing each other. Who was the next plotter? I stayed on one of the top floors of a hotel in Tampa in January 2002 for a University meeting and regularly looked out of the window at the sky. We were told If you see something, say something. What does that mean? The President told us to go to Disney World and live our lives, but our lives had been altered. Hate found a place in our lives. Hate never solves anything.

How have 25 years gone by so quickly? Now domestic terrorism is a significant problem. The politics of fear. Some call for America for Americans. Who is that…are you speaking of the indigenous people of our land? Healing is hard; hate is easy.

‘It appears a small plane has hit one of the World Trade Center Towers,’ Katie said. ‘We are working on getting more information,’ Katie continued.

One Tower collapsed. A jet aimed for and hit the second Tower. The scene was surreal. We were all in a shared nightmare. The second Tower collapsed. People were running, covered in white dust. Covered in the ashes of others. The look on their faces: Dante’s Inferno. The White House was evacuated; a jet was on its way to hit it.

Thousands of photos of missing people were posted outside the World Trade Center thousands who would not be found. People came to help. Dig. Breathe the toxic, pervasive white ashen dust. We did not know.

So, what do we do 25 years later? Hate has not worked. There are terrorists within and without. The job of terrorists is to cause terror. When we are afraid, we think poorly. Ethnicity, religion, and country of origin are not the answer to Terror. Perhaps we should talk together. Be honest with each other. Pray for each other.

Consider others’ feelings. Find the numerous similarities, not the few differences. Be quiet and watch, listen, and think before we speak. What if God tells us we all failed the test?