Where I work, in Washington Heights, it's about as far away from the financial district as is possible while being in Manhattan. The first intelligible account of the attack came to me within minutes from the office next door, where a coworker was listening to a Lisbon station in Portuguese. It sounded like a mistake, an exaggeration, or a rumor. If a plane really hit the Towers, rather than clip an antenna, the whole financial district would be affected. It was just plain ludicrous. True, the Twin Tower site was covered with smoke, but fires are commonplace in the city. Our cynical disbelief didn't change until I checked in with Jo-Ann, who asked me to call my worried mother. Mama Ruth saw the live coverage of the second hit. We, too, sought out TV coverage.
Our research participants didn't show up. Subway service was disrupted. Traffic was a nightmare. Bridge and tunnel closures effectively isolated Manhattan in all directions. Air traffic was stopped, with word of additional planes unaccounted for. With the nearby George Washington bridge a potential terrorist target itself, the sounds of jets screaming overhead was particularly disconcerting.
At the Psychiatric Institute, as everywhere in the Columbia-Presbyterian complex, preparations were being made for additional admissions. Clinical and emergency staff were readied. Yet the immediate problem was getting people out of the site, not adding more to the confusion. Even the blood donation request was quite selective. So, like everyone at home, there wasn't much that could be done. Numerous people made frantic calls out of town to find out if friends and loved ones had called in. Otherwise, it was just mutual support, reflection and prayer.
I was more distracted on September 11th than I was when my car slid upside down on the LIE on the night before a major grant deadline, but I somehow managed to pull together enough work to bring home with me. By 6:30, I hit traffic within Manhattan, but nowhere else. The rest of the roads were deserted. The smell of the smoke, wafting up the Harlem River, hammered significance into the altered skyline. The vacancy in untallied human lives brought tears to my eyes. When I got home, I informed my girls that our way of life had changed forever.
Oh just and merciful God, We are shocked by a series of
terrible acts against humanity and especially our country. We pray for
the innocent victims and their families. We pray also that those whose
hearts are filled with hate might be turned away from evil. Help us not
to speak or act rashly, not knowing by whom or why these awful deeds have
been committed. Fill our hearts with compassion for those in need and strengthen
our wills that we may do justly and love mercy and walk humbly before you.
In Christ's name, Amen.
(Jack Rogers - this year's General Assembly moderator)