When I wrote this poem I was thinking about the fact that events like those of Sept. 11 can change the way we look at things--literally. In the days after, and still now, I looked at tall buildings (and my town doesn't exactly have TALL buildings!) and saw planes sailing into them. I started to see planes again after a couple of days and I found myself cringing under them. The "light" is, I guess, progress, or science, or whatever label you want to use. Technology. Planes, skyscrapers, explosives. All the trappings of civilization that become two-edged swords when we humans decide to hurt each other.
When I started reading this forum in January I did not think that the best thing I would get out of it would be a poetry forum. I came here for U2 but I've read and posted poetry, I've expressed my views on a lot of things besides U2. I wanted to say a few things now about my views on the events of the past few weeks and what may come. It's going to involve me talking about my beliefs, and I never expected to do much of that here either, (I didn't expect to post nearly as frequently as I do!!) but as others have said, the most articulate Interferencers hang out here. So maybe someone will read this.
On the night after the attacks I went to my Bible study group (I'm a Jehovah's Witness) as I usually do on Tuesday nights. We're discussing the prophetic book of Isaiah and it so happened that we were already scheduled to discuss chapter 2 verse 4: "And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore." It was an interesting coincidence, especially since those words are inscribed outside the United Nations building in New York--and the attacks happened more or less on the doorstep of the UN, on what was apparently supposed to be the International Day of Peace.
I do believe with all my heart that those words will eventually be true worldwide--but not by human means. At Jeremiah 10:23 it says "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." I think that human history and human self-government have clearly borne that out. Some governments have worked better than others, but none have really
worked. World leaders are now talking about eradicating terrorism--how do you eradicate a state of mind, which is what terrorism is, when people aren't willing to change how they feel in their hearts?
So I believe that change will come about in the future under God's Kingdom by means of Jesus Christ. This is also a reason why I have to remain neutral with regard to questions such as whether or not the nations should take military action at this time. Jesus said that his followers should be "no part of the world" (John 15:19) and that their allegiance should be to the Kingdom, not to fallible human governments. I believe that God's purpose for the earth is unchanged: at Isaiah 45:18 it says that he "did not create it simply for nothing" and that he "formed it even to be inhabited." I love the earth. I don't want to leave it even for heaven. And according to the Bible, the purpose for the earth and the destiny for most of humankind, if they choose it, is to live forever on the earth in peace. In a world where differences in culture and skin colour will be something beautiful, not something to cause hatred and strife.
Should anyone actually read this, thanks for listening
Take care,
Clarissa
[This message has been edited by scatteroflight (edited 09-30-2001).]
