Where were you on 9/11/01?

Do you remember how you felt after the attacks on 9/11/01? I remember the shock, the horror, the tears, and the fears. I went to work and we were all so stunned we could barely focus. I think we were released early. I went to the prayer chapel at Calvary Community Church. We prayed and did what we could to help anyone we knew who was personally impacted. Then I went home, watched the news, and cried.

And I wondered. Who did this? Is it just the beginning of more attacks? Could any of those people have survived, and will they turn up alive? Did President Bush have any inkling something like this might happen? How will he respond?

We all tried to process it in our own ways. I wrote a song called "Now More Than Ever" about turning to God. "Walk us through the valley of the shadow of death, you have not failed, you will prevail. Safe in your arms you hold your own, waiting for us to come home." I felt a camaraderie with all Americans. We held hands in church and prayed. There was more kindness, less harshness, less divisiveness, more acceptance.

Where is that camaraderie now? I thought the Bush-bashing years were a season that would pass. Then the Obama bashing accelerated. Now there's sort of a universal bashing going on that is not just limited to politics. Katie Couric said it well, "Our culture has become very vitriolic, where there is some kind of perverse pleasure in seeing people fail. And now there are so many more outlets to spew that vitriol." We can't blame the media. The outlets -- Facebook, Twitter, etc. -- are not monitored. People are speaking their minds. I see some love. And I see too much blame and hate. Where is that going to get us?

I really understand that there is a lot of disagreement about what is best for our country, and the great thing is we are free to disagree. A lot of people speak out because they are passionate about wanting what is best for Americans. But that's just the thing -- lots of folks are speaking -- but is anyone listening? Do you listen to someone who respectfully disagrees with you? Do you consider that most of us truly want the same things, but don't agree on how to accomplish the task? Yes, it's important whom we choose for our president. However, there are more than 300 million Americans. And one president. Who is truly in power here? We are. Are we going to use our power to spread love or hate? Wisdom or ignorance? Unity or division?

9/11 showed me that the majority of Americans want to unite against evil. Love and compassion can triumph over petty disagreements.

I wish I'd written the ultimate 9/11 song. But that's ok that I didn't. Alan Jackson did. So I looked this up today and watched it. And I remembered. I will always remember. Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us -- but the greatest is love.